Jacob didn't stop staring at me the whole time, even as we ate. And every time I looked over at him, he would look back down quickly. Rachel would chuckle and so would Emily. Jacob had never been my cup of tea. We were enemies as kids.

     He was into Bella, even as a toddler. I would throw mud at him, surprise him with water balloons, and one time I beat him up. Okay, more than once. He was a dick.

     When we finished eating, Leah offered to drive us home. I hugged everyone, thanked Billy for the food, then went for Jake. I wrapped my arms loosely around his neck and hesitantly he hugged me back. I waved goodbye and got in the passenger seat.

     "I think a certain Black boy likes you," Leah crooned. Dad laughed from the backseat and I rolled my eyes.

     "Hush you two and in case you don't remember, Jacob Black and I were mortal enemies as kids. Remember that time he ran all the way home when we were five because I punched him in the nose? He cried!" I smiled at the memory.

     "Because you secretly loved him!" Leah laughed as we pulled into my driveway. Dad got out and I punched her shoulder.

     "Later, Clearwater."

//////////

Monday, I rode with Edward and Bella to school. She hadn't said much about her visit with our mom, but I knew she didn't ask how I was and I was angry. I was still getting dressed in the backseat—they complained that I would make them late so they dragged me out of the house in my boxers and tank top.

     They got out and walked toward the school as I pulled on a Chanel velvet corset bustier top and an oversized black and white plaid button up shirt.

I rolled the sleeves up to my elbows and pulled on the black skinny jeans. I slid my feet into white flats and jumped out, grabbing my bag and jogging toward my sister and her boyfriend. As I reached Edward, he was fuming. And Bella was on the back of a motorcycle with none other than Jacob Black. He looked back at me and his face was sad. I see that the toddler crush still holds...

     "What the hell is going on?" I said, looking up at Edward.

  "I'm leaving. Sorry, Noreen. Alice will drive you home after school." He turned and walked back to his car, shaking his head. What the hell? My sister just took off on a motorcycle with Jacob and I'm left here alone.

     Alice was almost to my house when she stopped in the middle of the road. She sniffed the air. God these Cullen's were strange as shit. She became worried and made a U-turn, speeding back through the neighborhood and through the outskirts of town.

     "Alice, what's going on?" I yelled, grasping the handle above the window as I was slung against the door and she turned into a driveway. Soon we were in front of a huge glass house. I formed an O with my lips and turned to her.

   "Someone was at your house."

   "Yeah, my dad..." I looked at her strangely and she sighed, getting out and grabbing my hand. She pulled me into the house and I became worried. If Alice thought there was an intruder in the house, what about my dad?

   "Carlisle?" she yelled. Soon a woman and man emerged from the kitchen. The woman had a heart shaped face and long reddish hair. The man had platinum blonde hair and a soft face.

   "Hello, dear." The woman greeted me.

   "Hi, I'm Noreen. Bella's sister. Alice, tell me what's going on. Now," I demanded, taking my hand from hers. Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, and Edward came down the stairs then, worried looks on their faces. Edward ran from the house in a blur. Literally.

   "Noreen, I need you to sit down and listen closely." Carlisle said calmly, holding my shoulders. "We're...vampires." My mouth opened, but I couldn't speak. I knew they weren't crazy, but vampires? Was this a joke?

   "I smelled another vampire's scent at your house, so I brought you here. Edward has gone now to check on Charlie. He's fine, though." Alice said quietly.

   "I believe you, but I need to go home. Please." Carlisle nodded and Alice followed me to her yellow Porsche.

//////////

When we reached my house, Edward's car was there. Alice left and I ran inside. Dad was in the kitchen, about to leave for his night shift, and I jogged upstairs and into Bella's room. Edward was touching the dream catcher hanging from her headboard.

"Edward, what's going on?" Bella said, glancing at me briefly.

"Someone was here. Noreen, they were in your room, too. Come on. We're going to my house." Without a word from me, Edward pulled us both outside to his car. The police cruiser was gone and I was thankful. Edward didn't recognize the scent of whoever broke into the house and rifled through Bella and I's rooms.

The Cullen's determined that the scent vanished five miles south of our house. They said maybe it was a nomad. They filled me in on everything that had happened the year before with the vampires James, Laraunt, and Victoria. And the Volturi.

     The Italian scum sounded horrible. But Alice said it was neither Victoria nor the Volturi. She had visions, apparently... They were discussing protection details when I fell asleep on the couch.

////////

When I woke up, it was daylight and I was in my own bed. I heard feet shuffling in the hall. It could be the intruder. I grabbed the baseball bat from under my bed and slowly turned the door knob. I rushed into the hall in my pajama shorts and tank top. Before I could attack, I heard Bella yell my name. I looked around to see Jacob and my sister.

"What the hell, guys? You almost gave me a heart attack out here. I thought you were the intruder or something. They were in my room, too, by the way." I breathed heavily and Jacob chuckled.

"Calm down, Noreen. Jacob was just getting the scent of the intruder." She looked like she had told a huge secret and I held up my hand.

"Don't explain. Let me get dressed." Bella sighed and smiled. I closed my bedroom door and set the bat on the bed. I tossed my clothes into the hamper and pulled on a white T-shirt and denim shorts. I pulled my hair into the ponytail and went back out. We all headed downstairs and outside. Edward was standing next to his car.

"I'll know the scent if we cross it." Jacob said crossly to Edward.

"Good. Now you can leave." Edward was a foot from Jake now. Bella stood between them.

"That's enough. Stop fighting. I'm Switzerland from now on, okay? Not taking sides." Bella said angrily. I raised my eyebrows and crossed my arms over my chest. Of course Bella always had guys fighting over her, but before she moved here, she never realized it. I had. Jacob suddenly looked at me and smiled. I could've melted.

Apparently there was a Quileute wolf pack in La Push and Jacob was part of it. Including all the guys that were at Billy's the other day. And Leah. The partnership between the Cullen's and the pack was uneasy. They guarded our house in shifts.

     The wolves relieved the Cullen's at intervals so they could hunt. I insisted on not hanging out with Bella and Jacob when Edward brought her to him for safety. I liked him—even though I wouldn't admit that to Bella or anyone else. And I didn't want to see them being lovey dovey.

     It was sickening. Instead, I spent those days with the Cullen's when they weren't hunting. As I thought at first, Rosalie and I became pretty close friends. One day, when Edward brought Bella to meet Jake, Bella stopped at the door and turned to me.

"Noreen, Jacob wishes you would come hang out with us. I think he likes you." She looked at me, smiling hopefully.

"He likes you, Bella. Be realistic now. See ya later." I shut the door on her and heard her sigh. I walked back to the living room and sat in front of Jasper to finish our chess game. I was getting good at it and he was a good teacher.

     Esme taught me how to cook, which my own mother never bothered to do. Edward came back and sat on the sofa with Alice. Rose dragged me to the living room and made me look at fashion magazines for two hours.