The clang of metal upon metal rang through my ears as I stared at the closed locker door. The final bell a distant memory as I had spent the last fifteen minutes just staring into my locker. I didn't know what to do anymore, just saying I felt numb didn't seem like enough to describe the loss I was feeling. 

Dad had finally forced me back to school, although he was lenient letting me start again on a Friday, he still made Jesse drive me here to make sure I went in. I wouldn't be surprised if he had Jesse circling the place to make sure I wouldn't escape. I had been back at school for a day, and it had been a week since the incident... And a week since I last saw Jake. 

The rest of the boys were completely normal with me again, even Sam when he showed up at the house and that gave me some comfort. However, there was still a Jake sized hole in my heart that only he could fill and repair. 

I wanted an explanation; I was fed up with feeling angry and sad and lost. I just wanted him back in my life. That connection we had when we saw each other again after his fight completely revived me. He had come to see me the night before. Why was he suddenly avoiding me? Why did he run? 

The pack hated him, and I knew it wasn't just because he had suddenly dropped everything and ran from me. I get that was a good enough reason but there was something else there. Something they weren't telling me. Whenever I brought him up or asked how he was the room grew silent and awkward, and then suddenly someone changed the subject. 

To be honest I didn't know what to do anymore. All I could feel now was a pull in my chest that I knew was telling me to go to him but, if I couldn't find him, and he didn't want me to find him, why should I bother? 

I've tried calling but I was sure Billy had shut off the phones... Bella was going crazy. He was completely avoiding her, not a call or anything. She was driving me crazy with all her questions, and I hated not being able to tell her. She thought Sam was corrupting everyone, she even tried to speak to Jesse, but he was avoiding her too. I was all she had and all I could do was lie to her as we both suffered over the loss of Jacob.  

"Hey, Aria!" I turned my head to look down the hallway to see Ryan and the rest of my friends making their way towards me. It was my first day back after three weeks and I had been avoiding them all day. I didn't need the interrogation. 

"Hey guys." I leant on my locker, waiting for them to approach me, my eyes trained on my white converse. 

"So, I'm having a party tonight. Wanna come?" Jason asked biting his lip hopefully, the rest of the guys building themselves up ready for my answer. 

"I'm sorry..." I began as they all groaned in annoyance. "I'm sorry guys but I can't." I wasn't exactly in the party mood. 

"It's okay we get it." Cassidy began snidely, shrugging as she placed a hand on her hip. Here we go... "Is your brother acting up, or have you argued with Jacob again, or is Bella still depressed, or is it more problems with your mom moving?" Cassidy spat and I turned to glare at her in shock, my shaking hands balling into fists. 

Obviously missing out a few details she knew I had a lot going on right now. I never expected her of all people to call me out on it. 

"Cassie!" Scarlett glared at her as the guys gave her questioning looks. 

"What!?" Cassidy protested before pointing at me. "She's never free anymore and she expects us to be okay with that?" 

"Well, I thought you were my friend, the least you could do is act like one. Therefore, you should be okay with it!" I retorted and she just huffed crossing her arms over her chest. 

"Well, she is right." Ryan cut in as Scarlett rolled her eyes placing her head in her hands. Ryan was actually agreeing with Cassidy? "Scar, don't act like that I know you're thinking it too. Ari, we never get to hang out with you anymore. Ever since the Cullens left and Bella went crazy you've been quiet and shutting everyone out. It's like you can't stand to be around us anymore." 

"I can't believe this." I wanted to rip his arms off. I had been so open with him, he held me as I cried! "You off all people know how hard it has been for me." I cursed myself when the angry tears began to pool in my eyes. 

"Oh, so Ryan is the only one you talk to now." Cassidy snorted, flicking her long red hair over her shoulder. 

"Stay out of this Cassidy, everything isn't always about you." I snarled, not even bothering to look her way. She huffed loudly. 

"You need to stop moping over people that don't even care about you." Ryan continued; he was trying to keep his voice on the sweet side to avoid me becoming offended, but I could see right through him. He didn't know I had made up with the guys, so I let this one slide. "You should spend time with people that don't ignore you and care about you." 

"Oh yeah because Cassidy's little speech was so sensitive." I mocked, crossing my arms over my chest, my hands gripping my biceps to control my anger. 

"You know what-" Cassidy began stepping forward but Ryan caught her arm holding her back. I raised an eyebrow at her in disbelief. 

"Enough Cass. Look, Ari, do you still wanna be friends with us?" Ryan asked and I laughed in disbelief. How could he be this insensitive? 

"I still want to hang out with you and I still want you to be my friends it's just that I don't have any spare time right now. Not between what's going on at home and finals coming up, I have a lot of catching up to do." I defended myself as I was met with sympathetic faces apart from Ryan and Cassidy. 

"We understand Ari, you don't have to answer to us." Jason placed a reassuring hand on my arm. 

"Yes, she does Jase. I'm fed up with being stood up. She can't do this to us anymore." Cassidy cut in and then Scar turned to her. 

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Cassidy looked taken back by Scarlett's outburst, but I guess she had just had enough of her whining. 

"Don't talk to me like that! I'm just saying what all of us are thinking." Were they all really thinking this? I knew that I hadn't been spending much time with them, but I didn't think it was that bad. 

"Look guys I'm sorry for not being free recently but-" Cassidy cut me off, if I bit my tongue any harder it was going to fall off. 

"Recently!" She let out a sarcastic laugh and I dug my nails into my arms to stop myself from acting out. "You haven't spent time with us since the beginning of the school year!" 

"I don't get what the big deal is-" I began but I was cut off again. 

"Can you stop being such a brat!" I was taken back by Ryan's words. How dare he? 

Just as I was about to lay into him a new booming voice echoed around the halls.  

"What did you just call her?" His voice was low and terrifying, I had never heard his sweet voice sound so angry. 

"Jacob? What are you doing here?" I turned to look at the huge boy, no, man charging down the hall, almost looking too big to fit. Just at the sight on him my heart fluttered, the beats out of sync as the electricity rattled around my body, my skin yearned to touch his. 

He stalked straight past me however, stomping straight over to Ryan until they were face to face. Ryan's jaw was slack, his mouth hung open in shock at the new Jacob that stood before him. In all honesty, everyone looked shocked... maybe even scared. "If you ever talk to her like that again I won't hesitate to break your nose for a second time." He threatened, the fury glowing in his eyes. 

"Jacob!" I hissed angrily; he was making it worse. The last thing we needed was for him to lose control. I grabbed onto his forearm, my insides screaming in delight as the electricity finally got what it desired. 

Ryan quickly regained his composure, "I'd like to see you try." Ryan retorted once he escaped from his trance. Ryan's face still had a yellowish twinge to it, what was he thinking riling Jake up like that? One punch to the head and Jake would do more than just break his nose.  

I looked at Ryan with narrowed eyes. "I thought you cared about me; you wanted me to be your girlfriend last week!" I pushed myself between the two massive bodies, separating them as my other friends watched completely dumbfounded.  

"What?" Jake hissed through his teeth. His glare was viscous. I've never seen him look at anyone like that, not even Jared. Ryan visibly gulped; he was even scaring me. I took a step back, subconsciously closer to Ryan as Jake's body began to shake with pure anger. 

"I do care but whenever he's around you're a completely different person." Ryan added as he crossed his arms and glared at Jake, he didn't look half as menacing. 

"What's that supposed to mean?" I said angrily, scowling up at him. 

"It means, sweetheart," I felt like I had a face like thunder, he was not going to patronise me. "That Jacob has got you on a leash. It's like you're his-" 

I had already raised my hand ready to slap him across the cheek before Jake grabbed it in his own warm and shaking one before interrupting Ryan. "You dare finish that sentence." He threatened lowly, slowly moving my body aside to square up to Ryan. 

"What you gonna do about it? My dad's a cop." Ryan's comeback was weak, and Jake's twisted smile proved that he didn't even care. 

"You ever say a bad word about Aria again, I will break every bone in your body." He said sternly, looking down at Ryan like the piece of crap he was. 

"Nice try." Ryan smirked before pulling his balled fist back and swung it at Jake's face. My brain went into overdrive, he's going to phase, what do I do? 

When Ryan's fist collided with Jake's face, the sound of bone hitting bone met my ears by my eyes widened when Jake's head didn't even flinch. His skin just absorbed the shock like Ryan had only tapped him. Ryan's shriek then filled the air, his good hand clutching the bad one as it hung in the air completely limp. 

A quick glance at my friends and their astonished faces told me it was time to go. Jake was shaking furiously so I immediately moved to his side and placed a hand on his bicep and began to pull him away from the scene. His body was stoic, my normal human strength didn't even budge him, he just stood there, burning holes in Ryan's pain filled body. "Jacob!" I hissed and began to pull him a little harder, his feet slightly sliding across the floor. Once he realised what I was trying to do he turned on his heel and stormed out of the school and towards the parking lot. I looked back at my friends to see them all crowding round Ryan and then back to the swinging doors that were left in Jake's wake. Without a second thought I took off after Jake. 

I found him pacing behind his father's truck, pulling on his hair as he grumbled to himself. "What the hell was that?!" I spat pointing back towards the school, I was absolutely furious. He could have phased in front of them, killed Ryan with one punch!

"Excuse me?" He growled, I stared at him in blank astonishment. 

"You just made that a million times worse! What the hell were you thinking?!" No doubt Ryan was going to tell his dad that one of the La Push Gang boys broke his hand. Jake just stared at me his eyes tense and angry. 

"Yeah, because you were handling that fine on your own." He retorted, that twisted smile back on his face. 

"Who the hell are you right now?!" My voice was failing me as it broke with the threat of a sob stuck in my throat. "Because you're not acting like my Jacob!" It escaped my throat as I gasped for breath. I hated how sensitive I was recently; it was all his fault. I covered my face with my hands, not wanting him to see me cry.  

Without another word I heard him move past me towards the cab of his dad's truck. I kept my back to him, breathing in deeply to collect myself before I wiped away the few tears that had fallen. I didn't know who he had become, the difference was killing me. 

He rolled his window down to speak to me, "Come on, everyone's waiting." His voice was soft, just like it used to be before all of his weird mood swings. 

I didn't get how his mood could change so quickly. I knew it was part of his transformation that made him like it, but it was just hard to understand and keep up with. It was so weird how he could act so calmly and normal with me and then turn angry and pissed within a split second and it's almost like he's angry with being around me, like I'm the one that fuels it. 

"Aria?" He called again, snapping me out of my thoughts. I walked over to the truck and climbed in quickly. 

We drove in silence for about twenty minutes until Jake broke the silence. 

"Look, I'm sorry for running away last week, that was stupid of me and to be honest I don't really know why I did it. And I'm sorry for acting like a dick back there at your school and I understand why you think I'm an asshole." He kept his gaze flickering between me and the road, a sad pout on his face as he waited for me to talk. 

I contemplated on whether I should ignore him or not, but I decided against it and turned it my seat to face him. 

"I don't think you're an asshole 24/7 but you sure have been acting like one over the past few months. I know you have been under orders and told not to talk to me but that doesn't explain the running away after you saved me. I don't understand it Jake and it's hurting me. I want my best friend back; I want the old you back. You scared me back there." I bit the inside of my lip to refrain from allowing my bottom lip to tremble yet again.

"He's not around anymore Blue." He spoke quietly as he watched the road ahead. 

I let in a shaky breath as I wiped the tear that began to roll down my cheek. He had to be in there somewhere. He's not gone, I mean look at the other but night when he held me before I went to sleep or before he ran away, and he held me so tightly. 

"Jake you're still you. You've just..." I fought to find the right word. 

"Changed." He finished for me as he stopped the truck, pulling up outside my house. 

"Yeah but, no... Well, you have..." He watched me struggle to find the right words as he held his head in his hands. 

"I always make you cry." The tears were still rolling down my face as he whispered, and I felt my heart break.  

I crawled over to him across the centre piece, settling myself of his lap straddling him, it was the only way I could get close to him. My body longed for that closeness again... 

As soon as I sat on his lap he looked up from his hands in confusion. Instead, I grabbed his hands and placed them on my cheeks, his thumbs automatically moving over my skin to brush away the tears. I placed my own hands on his cheek as I stared into his eyes.  

"And then you always stop them. You have changed Jake but that doesn't mean the old you isn't still here. He's just deep down inside you. In your heart. " I placed a hand on his heart, feeling in thumping heavily under my palm. "Remember the way you held me the other night when I was crying, that's something the old Jake would do. And the way you held me after Jesse tried to hurt you, that was the old Jake too." 

His hands fell to my waist as I spoke to him. The need to let myself melt into his arms was there and I restrained myself from doing so. 

"You're still in there's Jake, you just need help to find your way back." I wrapped my arms around him tightly, as I buried my head in his neck. 

"I'm sorry Blue." He whispered into my hair, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. 

"It's okay Jake. I'll always be here for you." I promised him as I settled myself in his arms. 

Suddenly there was a loud tapping noise on the window, and we broke apart quickly, my back slamming into the steering wheel activating the horn. 

All the guys burst into fits of laughter as Jake muttered profanities under his breath as he glared at them. The laughter of the boys drawing my dad, Billy and Harry out of my house. 

I cursed as I met Dad's appalled stare, no doubt coming from the way I positioned on Jake's lap right now. 

Quil's laughter was the loudest considering it was him who disturbed us. He was doubled over holding his stomach as tears poured from him eyes. 

My own eyes flickered between him and my dad who was grimacing at me still being on Jake's lap, I don't doubt I'll have a firm talking to later. Thanks, Quil. 

And then a great idea came into my head as I looked back at Quil's laughing figure. I quickly opened the car door, using my vampire speed, and climbed out of the car - avoiding hurting Jake. I ran to Quil quickly using my speed and strength to force him to the ground quickly, my hands pushing on his chest harshly as his back impacted with the ground. A loud choking and gasping sound left his mouth as I had winded him. 

I smiled proudly as the laughter had completely stopped, everyone looking at me in astonishment. "Don't do that again." I said seriously pointing at a panting Quil on the floor. "Did anyone else find making me jump funny?" I asked around and they all shook their heads fiercely. "Good." 

I loved that they were scared of me now. 

I walked back over to the truck, grabbed my backpack out of Jake's hands as he stood there smirking, leaning against the truck door, and made my way towards the house and up to my room. 

Just as I had finished setting out my schoolwork to do my catching up there was a knock at my open door. "Can we talk?" Jake asked unsurely as he lingered in my doorway. I nodded before tucking my dark, long hair behind my ears and he entered the room, closing the door behind him.  

"What about?" I suddenly felt awkward. We had been fine back in the car so what was wrong now? 

"I just wanted to finish what we were talking about earlier... you said I scared you." He looked guilty as he stared down at the floor. I walked over to him, reaching for his head to tilt it up slightly to look at me. 

"I'm not now, okay?" He nodded before letting me take his hand to lead him over to the bed to take a seat. "I've never seen you act so cold, so... terrifying Jake. You sounded like you were going to kill him." 

"He was rude to you. I couldn't stand it! No one will ever talk to you like that whilst I'm around. I'll make sure of it!" He was getting riled up again, the shaking had returned as he flexed his fists. 

"Hey, hey, hey." I tried to soothe, climbing into his lap again and taking his hands, holding them between us. "Just breathe for me." I coaxed, rubbing my thumbs over the backs of his palms. After a few seconds the shaking stopped, and he returned back to normal. "Forget about him okay." I told him, my hands still stroking his. 

"He asked you to be his girlfriend?" It was more of a question than a statement and the irritation in his voice confused me. 

"I said no." Which was true, I wanted him to know that. 

"Good." He said confidently, confusing me even further. I didn't want to dig though; we didn't need more arguments. 

We sat together in a comfortable silence for a while, I guess we needed it. We hadn't been properly alone together in over a month. I missed my best friend. 

"I wish I could have told you when it happened." He said quietly, looking down at our hands refusing to make eye contact. "I needed you; I was so scared until the guys appeared." It was hard for him to admit this, to be vulnerable. 

"If Quil hadn't decided until that night to tell me I would have been." I gave him a small smile, but he didn't accept it. Instead, his shook his head. 

"We were all so horrible, I couldn't even tell you were different at first." He admitted and that small comment calmed a nervousness inside of me. 

"But you can now." He nodded, giving me a sad smile. "Must be hard for you guys to be around me." 

"It's rewiring your brain into what's good and what's bad, what's innocent and what's guilty." It didn't go unnoticed that he said what instead of who. "You're good and innocent, half human. The Cullens are borderline though we still hate them, they made us like this, did this to you." He began breathing deeply again, a mechanism for trying to calm himself on his own. "I'm so scared I'm going to hurt you." 

"I'll heal Jake." I reassured but he shook his head again. 

"Not just in that way, Blue." I took a deep shaky breath; I wasn't going to cry again. "I'm so temperamental, I don't know what will set me off." I kept on stroking his hands, afraid that if I opened my mouth I'd sob. "I've hurt you and I've hurt Bella, she hasn't stopped calling the house. She'll come see me soon. What the hell do I say to her?" I understood his struggle, she could never know about this, outsiders were forbidden. 

"I don't know." I whispered, leaning forward to rest my head on his shoulder, the hot skin soothing me. "You made me feel alive again, those two weeks were complete torture. You coming to see me helped me get my friends and family back. You're not all bad Jake." He needed some reassuring. "This isn't your fault." 

* * *

"Aria we are leaving now!" Jesse called up the stairs. 

"Okay one sec." I called back quickly running to my closet to grab some sweats to put on. 

I only had one of Jake's old shirts on and I didn't really wanna go downstairs wearing nothing but his t-shirt. He eventually left my room to allow me to get to work on all the stuff I had missed for the past three weeks. We ended our deep conversation on a high note, me telling him he was the key into giving me my life purpose again seemed to cheer him up. For now, old Jacob was back. 

I made my way into the kitchen seeing my dad, Billy and Harry sat around the table and Sam, Jesse, Jared, Paul, Embry, Quil and Jake all standing in the kitchen shirtless, ready for their evening patrol. Dad had hidden plastic tubs containing clothes for the boys all around the outskirts of the houses, the unplanned phasing due to their tempers had caused a shortage of clothes. Naked boys was a bit of a predicament. 

I looked at Jake first, his eyes lightening up as he recognised the shirt I was wearing. I tried to hide my smile behind my hair. 

"Are you guys off then?" I asked looking at them all and they nodded. 

"Yep, we got a vampire to kill remember?" Jesse smirked and I shivered slightly as I looked at all their smirking faces. 

"Uh huh." I mumbled and then an idea sprung to mind. "Can I come with you guys?" They were only going after Victoria, it's not like I hadn't faced her before. 

"No!" Dad, Jesse and Jake all shouted at the same time. 

"What? Why not?!" I frowned. 

"Because it's dangerous." Dad said sternly as he stood from his seat. Now he cares...

"What?" I repeated. "How is it dangerous?" 

"Because we don't know what could happen." Jesse cut in and I scoffed. 

"It's not like she can bite me again, is it?" 

"No but she could still kill you." Jake added and I huffed folding my arms. Overprotective bastards. 

"But all you guys will be there to protect me if she even came close to killing me. I've been close to killing her before, you guys just interrupted me." I said keeping my eyes on Jake knowing he wasn't a wolf at that point. 

"You're not going Aria." Dad said wrapping his arm around my shoulders, forcing me into a side hug. I glared up at him. "Don't look at me like that." He warned and I nodded sullenly. 

"Okay we're going now." Jesse said again before turning towards the door and I moved to follow. 

"Aria!" Dad grabbed my shoulder. 

"I'm just going to see them off, Jesus!" I huffed walking out the door after the boys, seeing them jogging towards the tree line. Jake being the only one left at the bottom of the porch steps. 

"I see you're wearing my shirt." He pointed out as I made my way down the steps towards him, stopping on the second from last step so I was the same height as him. 

"Good observation." I leant my hip against the porch banister as he smirked at me. 

"Do you always wear my clothes at home?" He asked stepping closer and pulling on the bottom of the shirt. 

"You know I do?" I questioned him, watching his hands as they began to move to hold my waist. 

"I mean like nowadays; I thought you would have burned all my stuff." He joked as he pulled me against his shirtless torso that I was trying to avoid. 

"I could never do that Jake." I smiled as I wrapped my arms around his neck. 

Please lord, let this be the first time he kisses me! 

"Good. I like you in my clothes." He smirked and I blushed under his gaze. 

"Jacob!" Sam popped our little bubble as he called Jake, obviously wanting him to hurry up. 

"I've gotta go." Jake breathed as he rested his forehead against mine. 

Please please please kiss me!!! 

"I know." I closed my eyes feeling his breath on my lips. Our noses brushing together. 

"I'll see you later." I felt him lean in, his lips pressing against the corner of my mouth and lingering there for a moment before he pulled away and dropped his arms from around me, my eyes opened at the loss of contact. "Bye Blue."  

Why didn't he kiss me?! 

"Goodbye Jake." I put on a smile and waved him off before he disappeared with the rest of the guys and into the trees. 

How unfair.

* * *

"Aria get up! Now!" Jesse said sternly, shaking me awake harshly. 

It was Sunday morning... and it was still dark outside. 

"Alright I'm up get off me!" I whisper yelled, slapping his hands away from me angrily. I needed to catch up on my sleep. "What?" I pressed looking at him irritably.  

"Jake has some news about Victoria. Sam wants you there." My eyes widened dramatically. Sam wants me at a pack meeting? This must be serious. "Be quick we're leaving in five." He didn't have to tell me twice; I hadn't seen Jake yesterday and my body was already awake with excitement at the thought of seeing him.   

"Alright, I'll meet you downstairs." 

He left my room quickly leaving me to get ready. I rushed about my room gathering everything I needed to get ready, the image of Jake's face fuelling me. He had gone to kiss me on Friday night, that definitely meant something. I was looking forward to finding out what today hopefully. 

By the time I got downstairs all of the boys, except for Jake, were gathered in the kitchen, clad in only their shoes and shorts. I was given the task of short carrier, I hated it, but it was the least I could do seeing as they were letting me attend the pack meeting. 

Running with the wolves was an amazing experience. I dropped my barrier in order to still talk to the boys as we travelled, and it was exhilarating seeing how they see the world in wolf form. The boys were playful as there was no sudden threat, purposefully crashing into each other and nipping at the other ankles. I was faster than all of them, they even compared me to Victoria, but I kept to myself that I was able to catch up to her. I didn't want to give Jared another reason to take a shot at me.  

I quickly realised the meeting place Jake had chosen; we were close to the abandoned road Jake had taken Bella to so she could learn to ride her motorcycle. I dropped the boys' shorts to the floor and moved a little away to allow them to change without me seeing anything. They had tied their sneakers around their legs, so I didn't have to carry them. Well, I wouldn't have been able to carry six pairs of shoes anyway. 

Whilst they phased back, I decided to take a look around but stopped suddenly in my tracks when I caught the sight of the familiar rusty orange truck parked on the road between the trees. 

He told her... 

The thought of Jake and Bella together and the fact he told her our secret so easily when no one would tell me infuriated me. The guys needed to know this, being caught off guard was not going to end well, especially with them now being exposed to an outsider. 

"Don't get mad." I began, suddenly appearing front of them as they were finishing tying their shoes. The sudden sound of my voice made them jump though the concern for what I was about to say was not unnoticed. 

"Why?" Sam asked unevenly. 

"He's brought Bella." Instantaneously all of their faces turned hard as stone, not another word was uttered as they all stalked past me, the heat radiating from their bodies hitting me like a wave. I turned on my heel quickly, struggling to keep up with their long strides as they broke through the tree line and onto the road. Paul seemed the most fired up, I could hear his heavy breathing from a few metres ahead. 

Bella and Jacob stood waiting on the other side of the road. Both of their faces seemingly appalled by my attendance. Jake's face grew angry, matching the rest of his pack brothers whereas Bella looked stunned, she was most likely hurt that I hadn't told her the truth about the guys and Victoria. "Aria?" My name slipped from her lips in a confused whisper. 

We stopped just across the road, and I moved around the boys, so they weren't blocking my view, slipping between Sam and Jesse. My eyes shot down to their joint hands and a rage I've never felt before consumed me, my whole body began to shake with fury as my eyes remained glued to their hands. What was wrong with him? One day he almost kisses me and the other he's holding hands with her. 

Sam noticed my not-so-subtle discomfort and placed a hand on my shoulder in an attempt to calm me. It surprisingly worked, the comfort slowly releasing the rage. "What have you done Jacob?" He demanded. 

"Do tribe secrets mean nothing to you?" Paul stepped forward out onto the tarmac of the road, throwing his arms up into the air as he spoke. "Why can't you just follow the rules, Jacob? What the hell were you thinking? You've already broken them once." Paul spat, unintentionally pointing at me. Jake's eyes followed his finger, and I couldn't decipher the emotions on his face, the anger was still there but there was something else there, guilt perhaps? My gaze shot to the floor, embarrassed by the attention Paul had just thrown at me.  

"She can help." Jake tried to reason. 

"Help? What information could she have that Aria hasn't already given us?" I knew Paul was a hot head, but this was ridiculous. His arms were beginning to shake. "Just because you're in love with a leech lover," Sam restrained me from protesting, his grip on my shoulder tightening, the love comment sinking my heart "doesn't mean you can bend the rules! I'm sure she's willing to help us out!"  

"Don't talk about her like that." Jacob shouted back, obviously hurt by Paul's comment. 

Paul struggled to regain control of his body then, shudders were rippling along his shoulders and down his spine in pulses. 

"Paul! Relax!" Sam commanded from behind me. 

Paul shook his head back and forth, trying to concentrate on not losing control. 

"Jesus Paul, get a grip." Jared yelled at him, but Paul's body kept convulsing. 

Paul twisted his head toward Jared, his lips curling up over his teeth in irritation. His eyes then shot to me, and I looked at Jake behind him in panic and he stepped forward, anger and worry etched across his own face. Sam grabbed me then, pulling me back behind him separating us. He was so close to phasing I guess the thought of killing vampires was running around his brain. He then shifted his glare in Bella's direction, and Jake stepped to the side putting himself in front of her.  

There was no stopping Paul now. 

"Right, protect her!" Paul roared in outrage. Another shudder swept over his body. He threw his head back, a real growl escaping from his throat. 

"Paul!" Jake and Sam yelled at him in warning, but it was too late, a harsh ripping sound filled the air, followed by a loud snarl. Paul's clothes now laid in tatters around the beast that he had now become. Five-times his normal size stood the new, dark silver wolf, crouched in stance and ready to pounce. 

He bared his teeth, and another growl echoed around the abandoned road. His dark, enraged eyes focused on nothing but Bella. If he charged, I was going for him.  

He took one step closer to Bella and Jake, and my own body lurched forward, pushing myself between Sam and Jesse, ready to attack. But, in the same second Jake was running across the road and heading straight for Paul. 

"Jacob!" Bella screamed, horror on her face. Mid-stride, a long tremor shivered down Jake's spine. He leaped forward, diving headfirst into the air. 

With another sharp ripping sound, Jacob disappeared, his clothes falling around him as the huge, russet wolf landed and continued charging at Paul. They met head-on, snarls echoing around us and bouncing off the trees as I watched on in horror. My cousin and best friend fighting was something I had not expected. I didn't want either of them to get hurt.  

"Jacob!" Bella screamed again, staggering forward.  

"Stay where you are Bella." Sam ordered. They were snapping and tearing at each other, Paul was a much better fighter than Jared and this worried me more. Jacob did have the upper hand though, he was much bigger than Paul, in fact he was bigger than all of them except for Sam. Jake rammed his shoulder against Paul, doing it again and again until he was knocking him back towards the trees and away from us. 

"Take her to Emily's." Sam shouted at us, already jogging off towards the distant fight. The darkness of the trees absorbed their huge bodies, but the fierceness of their snarls didn't dull at all. As Sam ran, he kicked of his shoes on the way, the vibrations rolling over his body ready to phase. 

The growling and snapping began to fade, and then suddenly it stopped, leaving the rest of us in stunned silence. After a few moments Embry began to laugh. 

We all turned to him, confused looks on our faces. What the hell? 

"Why are you laughing?" I was astonished, Jake or Paul could be badly hurt. 

"Well, there's something you don't see every day." He snickered and I glared at him. 

"I do." Jared spoke up. "Every single day." He grumbled and that made me worry more. They all fight every day? 

"Aw, Paul doesn't lose his temper every day, " Embry disagreed, still snickering. "Maybe two out of three. And look at our boy Jake, two fights, in two weeks, over two different girls." He chided and I had enough. I shoved him kind of lightly, but the unexpected push caused him to trip over his own feet. "Hey!" He protested after regaining his balance. 

"Enough!" I seethed, even if it was something they were used to, I wasn't. I didn't need to be worried more. It also looked like Bella couldn't take it either. She looked frozen with shock. 

"Totally shredded." Quil said, stopping to pick up something white off of the ground and held it up towards us, it dangled in limp strips from his hand. 

"Billy said that was the last pair he could afford- guess Jacob's going barefoot now." Jesse chuckled but I was mortified, how many times had he lost his temper? 

"This one survived," Embry said, holding up a white sneaker. "Jake can hop." he added with a laugh. 

Jared, Quil and Jesse then begun collecting the various, ruined pieces of fabric the boys had left behind. "Get Sam's shoes will you, Aria? All the rest of this is headed for the trash." Jesse called to me, and I nodded silently, spinning on my heel and vampire speeding over to the shoes and returning in the space of two seconds. Jared sent me a dirty, disgusted look.  

Once the boys had collected the remains of Jake and Paul's clothes we grouped together again. Quil's face then lit up as he remembered something. He turned to Bella, looking at her carefully. "Hey, you're not going to faint or puke or anything?" 

"I don't think so." She gasped; she looked stiff. 

"Hey, Bells you don't look so good, maybe you should sit down." I said, walking towards her, hoping a familiar face would calm her. 

"Okay." She mumbled before sinking to the floor and put her head between her legs as I placed my hand on her back. 

"Jake should have warned us." Jesse sighed, rubbing over his face.  

"He shouldn't have brought his girlfriend into this. What did he expect?" Jared commented and I tensed up, my eyes locking with Embry and Quil, they were the only ones here that knew how I felt about Jake. Their eyes held nothing but sympathy. Were they really together? 

"Well, the wolf's out of the bag now." Embry groaned. "Way to go Jake." 

Bella slowly raised her head from between her knees and glared at the boys. "Aren't you worried about them at all?" She demanded, voicing both of our thoughts. 

"Worried? Why?" Jesse blinked at her. 

"They could hurt each other!" 

The boys laughed loudly, irritating me. Witnessing the fight last week meant that I knew that the boys couldn't be harmed easily but they were still huge creatures that could cause some damage. Bella knew nothing. 

"I hope Paul gets a mouthful of him." Jared said. "Teach him a lesson." 

"Yeah, because that's what you did, wasn't it?" I spat sarcastically, standing and stepping away from Bella. 

"Watch it leech." He spat, his mood suddenly going sour. 

"Enough, the both of you." Jesse warned, glaring at the both of us. 

"Anyway, there's no way that would happen." Embry disagreed. 

"Yeah! Did you see Jake? Even Sam couldn't have phased on the fly like that! He saw Paul losing it and it took him, what, half a second to attack? Same last week with you Jared, one look at what you done to Aria and he was gone. The boys got a gift." Quil added. That soothed me a little, him being better than Sam. 

"Paul's been fighting longer. I bet you ten bucks he leaves a mark." Jared continued and I clenched my jaw. He doesn't stop. 

"You're on. Jake's a natural. Paul doesn't have a prayer." They all shook hands grinning as Jesse rolled his eyes at their foolishness.  

I changed the subject quickly. "Let's go see Emily. I'm sure she'll have breakfast waiting."  

"Bella, mind giving us a ride?" Jesse asked looking down at her, offering his hand to help her stand.  

"No problem." She choked, still in shock. She wasn't handling this well. 

"I'll drive, where are the keys Bells?" I asked her, trying to be as calm as possible. 

"Ignition." She whispered. 

We all made our way over to the truck, me in the driver's seat with Bella settling between Jesse and I in the cab. Quil, Embry and Jared taking a seat in the bed of the truck. It groaned to life with the extra weight. 

We drove in silence back towards the village until Bella's quiet voice spoke out. "You didn't tell me." I briefly glanced at her and her eyes were trained on the road ahead. 

"I've only known a week Bells, it also wasn't my secret to tell." I said honestly, surely, she'd understand seeing the trouble she had just got Jacob in. 

"No." She protested quickly. "Victoria." She looked at me then, whispering her name with fear. 

"I didn't want to worry you." The fear in her eyes told me I was wrong. 

"She could have killed you!" She cried, and I shook my head in disagreement. 

"She didn't, she couldn't. I was overpowering her." Her face softened slightly at this new information. "I nearly killed her Bella." I explained, remembering the high-pitched cracking caused by the separation of her head from her neck. 

"It's true." Jesse added, her head switching to the other side to look at him. They hadn't been in such a close proximity together since Bella returned back to Forks over a year ago. "How did Jake get around the orders anyway?" 

"He didn't. I guessed." She said simply, I didn't completely believe it, but it wasn't like I could read her mind to check. "Where are we going?" I guess that was the end of that certain conversation. 

"To Emily's, she's Sam's fiancé. The others will meet us there when they've sorted themselves out." Jesse answered, barely looking at Bella. He looked very uncomfortable. 

"Does she know..." Bella began to ask and Jesse answered quickly. 

"Yes. And don't stare at her. It bugs Sam." I just felt so bad for Sam, he would always be reminded of the time he hurt the most important person in his life, if that was me, I could never forgive myself. Bella went on to ask why and Jesse explained further. Maybe now that we were all involved in each other's secrets we could all finally get along. Despite the tension between our cousins on different sides of the family. 

We turned down the little dirt road that led to Emily's at just the right time, Bella's truck sounded like it was about give in under all the weight it was hauling. Emily's little house then came into view, the new boxes of golden marigolds on the porch brought a smile to my face, it looked very cute. 

We all climbed out of the truck to the sweet smell of blueberries wafting in the air around us. "Oh, that smells good." I practically moaned as I shut the truck door. 

We all ascended the steps that led up to the house, the boys tumbling into the house first and Bella following timidly behind us. Emily had her back to the room, though she obviously knew of our presence with how loud the boys were... and most likely the racket of Bella's approaching truck before. "You guys hungry?" She asked in her sweet, melodic voice, with a bright smile on her face. "Aria!" She beamed excitedly noticing my presence behind the four large boys. She quickly placed the tray of freshly baked muffins down on the countertop before jogging over to give me a hug. 

"Hey Em, it smells good." I acknowledged, hugging her back. 

"Thanks, I- Oh. Who's this?" She finally saw Bella lingering in the doorway to her house. 

"Bella Swan." Jared shrugged; his mouth full as he spoke. "Who else?" He said rhetorically, I guess she was a common name in this household.  

"Leave it to Jacob to find a way around," she subtly glanced my way at the mention of Jake's name, as if it would set me off or something. She then turned back to Bella, the warmness of her face fading for a moment. "So, you're the vampire girl." 

Bella visibly stiffened. "Yes. Are you the wolf girl?" 

"I'd just like to cut in right here." Quil began and I rolled my eyes at the cockiness in his voice. "I believe Aria holds the titles to both of those statements." He grinned at me, wiggling his eyebrows as his pack brothers laughed. 

My eyes quickly caught the sight of a fork on the countertop beside me, with swift action I grabbed it and launched at Quil, his reflexes a second too slow for my vampire speed as the fork sunk into the top of his arm, Bella gasped in shock covering her mouth with her hands. 

"Ow! Son of a bitch!" He yanked the fork from his arm, four little punctures holes began to ooze the tiniest drops of blood before completely closing up and scabbing over. 

"There's no need for comments like that. And don't be such a baby." I rolled my eyes at him, grabbing a muffin for myself and Bella, she reached out with a shaking hand and took the muffin. 

"There was no need for that!" He retorted, rubbing his healing wound whilst the boys - except for Jared - laughed at him. I did feel kind of bad. Could it be considered extreme even though I knew he had accelerated healing? 

I apologised to Quil, kissing him on the top of the head before allowing them to dig into their breakfast, with the way those boys ate you'd think they would have been starved for weeks. I loved how at ease we were here, despite last week's tensions, but even with Jared now we weren't spitting insults at each other, we were just enjoying the company of our friends. 

I could feel Bella watching us from the side of the room, she was still nervous, but she had visibly relaxed in the way she was standing. The normalness of us around the kitchen table eased her worries about Jake slightly. 

The front door then opened, both our heads snapping to the side wanting to see an unharmed Jacob. Instead in came Sam. I let out an uneasy breath, they had to be okay, right? 

"Emily." Sam breathed her name, the love oozing from it as he strode across the room and took her face in his hands. He leaned down, quite a distance, and kissed the scarred side of her face before kissing her lips. 

"Hey none of that I'm eating." Jesse complained, making a disgusted face and I rolled my eyes at him. 

"Then shut up and eat," Sam suggested, making me laugh as he went back to kissing her. 

"Ugh." Embry joined in with the accusations. They were all eighteen and nineteen for crying out loud! 

I watched in adoration at the display of true, pure love that was happening before me. I wanted that. I felt like I could have that, especially with a certain individual if he got his act together and stopped dragging my cousin into things. 

Rumbling laughter then rolled through the air, Jake and Paul's huge bodies trying to shove past each other to get into the house. Paul punched Jake in the shoulder and Jake went for his gut in return. They laughed again, not a single life-threatening scratch on them. Paul did have a long, fading pink scratch along his forearm though. 

The pull inside me that longed to touch Jacob was back again and before I could register what I was doing I was running to him. My body collided into his with a light thud as I wrapped my arms around his torso, his own arms wrapping around my body as he chuckled at my actions. "You're so stupid." I mumbled into into his chest. "Both of you." 

His warmth consumed me as the electricity sparked around us. I craved this feeling; I couldn't live without it. I was addicted. "I know." He placed a kiss to the top of my head. "I'm okay. I promise." I looked up at him to see his eyes already settled on me. I felt one of his hands leave my waist and he settled it on the side of my face, his thumb caressing my cheek as we stared into each other's eyes. It felt like we were completely alone, just us in the moment. Pure perfection. Maybe we could have what Sam and Emily have. What was he thinking about?  

A sharp, choking sound shock blasted us out of our trance, I turn and scowl and Embry who was choking on what was mostly likely his fifth muffin. I'll get him back later for ruining our moment. I looked back up at Jake to see his eyes already distracted as they focused on Bella across the room. She stood there looking back at us, her face empty as she had her arms wrapped around her body tightly. 

Jake's hand slipped from my waist, our contact lost momentarily before he slipped it into my empty hand, grasping it tightly. Maybe he noticed my discomfort with him and Bella? He led us over to her, a big smile plastered on his face. How did he think this was fair on me as he held my hand? Bella's eyes were glued onto our hands, and I couldn't help but notice the mirror image. She was pulling the same face I had earlier this morning. She was jealous too. 

They then got lost in their own private conversation, not including me at all as they discussed if they were both okay. I felt embarrassed, here I was holding onto a boy's hand that couldn't give me attention when another girl was in the room. When I met Emily's sad, sympathetic eyes I dropped Jake's hand and moved away from him and over to the spare chair between Embry and Quil. 

A switch then went off in Jake's head as he noticed my absence. His hand was flexing in confusion as he scanned the room to find me only to be faced with the glares of his pack brothers. He stiffened in his stance and took a subtle step away from Bella. He then stared at me, trying to get me to look at him. I refused, crossing my arms over my chest and looked to the floor. 

"Alright." Sam said in a loud voice gaining everyone's attention. "Jacob has information for us." 

"The red head wants Bella." He began and Jesse didn't look convinced. I had already told them this. 

"Jake, we know this stuff." He huffed angrily. "She also changed Aria to spite the Cullens." He said their name in a growl, balling his fists tightly until his knuckles went white. 

"She also doesn't know the Cullens have left either." I added in frustration. Most pointless meeting ever, he just wanted us to be okay with Bella knowing. 

"Well now we have two girls to use as bait." Jared jeered, a smile pulling at the side of his mouth. 

With stunning speed, Jake yanked a can opener from the counter and launched it at Jared's head. Jared's hand flicked up faster than a flash of lighting and caught the utensil just before it hit his face. "They are not bait." He seethed, his nostrils flaring. 

"Enough!" Sam warned, there had been too many conflicts in the pack recently. If they wanted to catch Victoria they'd have to work together. "Jacob thinks it would be best if you spent as much time in La Push as possible." Of course he would. "When she returns, she won't know where to find you." 

"What about Charlie?" Bella demanded; she made a good point. Victoria wouldn't hesitate. 

"I think my dad, Harry and Robert will be able to keep him occupied around here as well." Jake answered, smiling. 

"Right, well it's better to have Bella here, we can lead her here and can end this." Sam finished confidently, pulling Emily into his side. 

"What about me?" I asked, I wanted to be involved in her death after what she done to me. 

"You're not coming with us." Jesse said quickly and I scowled. 

"Why not? I'm faster than all of you." I protested irritably. 

"Because you can still get hurt." Jake cut in worriedly. 

A lump formed in my throat as I thought about the possible outcome of my answer. "So could you." 

"Aria, you'll stick to guarding Bella and we'll continue with the hunt." Sam said authoritatively. With the power in his voice, I felt like I had to obey him. He hadn't ordered me with alpha command, but I still felt like I had to respect him, like when I met Jake's great grandfather in my dream. 

We all came to an agreement; Bella didn't seem happy in Jake's or my own involvement in the plan. Me fighting for her was something she never wanted. Once Victoria was gone this could all end and she admired my braveness. 

We spent the rest of the day at Emily's house but once night fell and the boys went back out on patrol I decided to take Bella back home, explaining to Dad what was going on and to invite Charlie round. Charlie was extremely happy to see Bella in a lighter mood again, despite our worry for our friends and family running around the forest chasing Victoria. 

I think we both knew that we each had feelings for Jacob and that he had for us. I also knew he had admitted it to her. I had nothing solid except for the way he had acted with me recently. I was a vampire though, there was no way we could ever work in the future. Bella was human, she knew he loved her, they would work. Give it a few months once Edward had been forgotten, he'll still be there waiting for her. I'd have to say goodbye for good in ten years' time, there was no future for us. 

I wasn't going to fight Bella for him, the more I got involved the more hurt I would become. I wasn't going to pursue Jake, if he wanted me, he'd show it. 

He just needed to prove it.