Katie's POV

It was a rare, sunny, autumn day in forks and I was enjoying the sun while eating lunch outside. I was munching down on my apple as I saw Bella walk outside alone. Huh, that's strange. Normally her and Edward and their posse of pale people (as I affectionately call them) are always together. I waved to a lost looking Bella and she joined me at my empty table. "Hey Bells, where's your boy toy?" I asked her as I sunned my face in the rare sunlight. She blushed and said "He's away camping, they do that when the weathers nice." Well okay then, that's not fair.

We chatted and exchanged notes of what happened since I saw her a few hours earlier when she dropped me off. Jake and I had finished the bikes and they looked stellar, but Charlie would have a heart attack if he knew I was driving that around, so I suffered through Bellas ridiculously ancient and slow car. But after school Jacob would pick me up on the bike and we would hang out. What we were doing never really mattered, we could make anything fun.

Sometimes we would go for walks on the beach or through the woods. Sometimes I would help him in the garage. Sometimes we would just watch movies or play cards. The main thing we did was talk. We could talk for hours just laughing and learning about each other. One time, Billy rolled in to find Jacob and I laying upside down on the couch with our legs on the couch and our backs on the floor, just talking in this position to get 'more comfortable' .

My favorite memories so far included when we helped Emily cook and when she went to the bathroom, Jake smeared batter on my face. So, naturally, I threw some at him, and it became a war zone. We got thrown out of her house for a while, but it was so worth it. And ever since I proved how adept I was at climbing trees, we would climb up super high and talk about everything. Or we would go find an abandoned dirt road and race the bikes until the wind forced tears to my eyes. Jake and the boys were quickly becoming my favorite people to hang out with. For once I didn't dread going inside, though I had to catch myself a few times when I kept flinching when anyone would raise their hands or touch my back. Even though I knew Jake noticed and wanted to ask about it, I was grateful beyond measure that he didn't push, that he respected my privacy enough.

My thoughts were cut off as the loud purr of an engine cut through the air. I turned to look at what caused the commotion and saw Jacob on his bike riding up to the parking lot. Oh yeah, I thought, it's Friday. Jake has promised to save me from a sure to be "boring me to death" lecture in history today. It wasn't that I was a bad student, quite the contrary, I'm a straight A student. But I've got history, biology and English after lunch. And I've already learned what they are learning right now, due to me transferring. So skipping wasn't really a big deal.

Some of Bellas friends came up with a shocked looks. But I only had eyes for Jacob and a wicked smile spread on my lips as everyone stared. He parked the bike and leaned next to it in nonchalance. I couldn't help but laugh. As I started to walk over to him Bella grabbed my hand and said "Katie what are you doing?" I just patted her hand and said "Chill Bells, skipping is necessary to fuel adolescence creativity and all that Jazz." She gave me a concerned smiled and let go. But not before saying "Be safe!" I yelled over my shoulder "Aren't I always?"

As I approached Jacob with a huge smile and said laughing "Sup dork." Jacob smirked and gave me a bow offering me my helmet. I took it and punched him in the shoulder while laughing. "Ow, chica don't hurt the help." "Oh please like I actually hurt you" I said back to him. He held his hand up to the top of my head, still well below his own. "You taking steroids K? You've grown like three inches" I gave him a skeptical look as I finished zipping up my bag. He noted my skeptical look and said " No, really. I'm about 6'7 and you were probably about 5'8 when you got here. Now you seem like 5'11ish." I pulled my bag onto my shoulder and feigned forgetfulness "Oh yeah, did I forget to tell you that you're freakishly tall?" He smirked and took my helmet from my hands and plunked it on my head. "No actually, seeing as you mention it 20 times a week." Just as I was about to snap a reply, continuing our banter. One of Bellas friends jogs up. His name was Mike...I think. He was always annoyingly buddy buddy with me in hopes to get with Bella. It would've been kinda cute if it hadn't been so desperately sad.

I turned to the bike, hoping Jacob would get the message and drive off before this awkward conversation could start. Jacob, God bless him, seemed to understand, he sat down on the bike and started the engine. I was about to swing my leg over when Mike called out "Katie! Hey Katie! Where are you going?" I groaned under my breathe and Jacob laughed at me. I stuck my tongue out at him, which only made him laugh harder. I tried to muster up a smile for Mike but it was more of a grimace. "Hey Mike, I'm not feeling well so Jacob has kindly agreed to give me a ride home." The lie easily slipped through my teeth. Mike gave Jacob a scathing look and said "You couldn't get bella so you went for the cousin?" Jacob tensed as if he would stand up and punch his teeth down his throat. So I grabbed his arm and pulled him back down to the bike. His skin was burning and I could feel the muscles in his arms twitching as if imaging the fight. I knew Jake needed to get away to cool off so I turned to Mike as I was clipping on my helmet and said "Last time I checked, Bella didn't choose you either" and Jacob sped off before he could utter a reply.

As we pulled up to Emilys house I hopped off the bike and cleared my throat. "So Bella..." Jacob looked embarrassed and blushed, his russet skin darkening with the red that bloomed on his high cheekbones. He ducked his head and said "Yeah. Um I had a crush on Bella for a while. But I'm completely over it." I smiled at how self conscious he looked and said in complete seriousness "That's okay, as long as you know that I'm completely in love with Quil." At this Jakes head snapped up and he looked crushed and devastated the split second before he saw my shit eating grin.

I saw Quil and Embry walk out of Em's house, shirtless as usually and with a wink at Jake I sprinted to them yelling "Hey Quil! Quil!" As I'm running I glance over my shoulder and see Jake coming after me smiling. "I've been meaning to profess my undying love for you!" I continue to shout as I reach Quil and hide behind him as Jake roars up to a stop. We run in circles around Quil laughing like crazy "Please tell me you love me so we can run off into the sunset together—eeiii!" I was cut off by Jake grabbing me around the middle and spinning me around. Quil and Embry were just standing there laughing their butts off, they give me a mock salute and run off into the woods. Embry shouted over his shoulder "Jake Sam wants you in 5! Hurry up!". They weren't worried over my comment because anyone with half a brain knows that Quil and I have a purely platonic, friend zone relationship.

Jake puts me down, his arms still around me, both our cheeks are flushed and our breathing ragged. I'm surprised by how close he is, his face is barely a foot away from mine and his eyes track my face with laser focus. They shift to my lips then back up to my eyes and all I'm thinking is how beautiful he is. Like how his russet skin glows and his eyes so deep and warm. And I'm thinking how I've never been closer to anyone in my life, I've never felt safer, or more content then I am right here with him.

His strong arms were still wrapped around my waist and I can feel them through the clothes I'm wearing. The heat seeping into me caused butterflies to clang around in my stomach. He brings his face down to mine and I can feel his warm breath on my cheek. One of his hands begins to slide up my back and I flinch and jump away. I'm so scared that he will feel the ridges from the scars on my back and will start to ask questions. I blush fiercely and look down at my feet. I don't look up but I can feel Jacobs gaze on me. I clear my throat and say "Uh you should go, ya know. Sam is waiting." I glanced up and saw Jake's gaze still on me, full of confusion and a small amount of hurt. It twisted something inside of me and it hurt so much that as he turned away, dejected, I reached out and grabbed his hand. He turned, surprise and tentative hopefulness written all over his face.

Before my brain catch up with my body, I crashed into Jake with the force of the hug. He barely hesitated before his arms wrapped around me and I quickly released him before his arms could settle then said, looking down at my feet and blushing through my hairline...again "um, yeah, thanks for bailing me out of school" Jake just smiled brightly and thankfully ignored how red I still was and said casually "Yeah no problem, I gotta go." I have a noncommittal murmur and he turned and jogged off. I stood there for a few moments, then put my head in my hands and groaned "I'm am so unbelievably screwed."

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After a comfortable evening of finishing up homework and watching movies with Leah and Emily while eating a steady flow of cookie dough, the boys banged in through the door. They proceeded to shout for food and that made me and Leah shout for them to shut up which made them yell louder.

Everyone calmed down and we had a relatively night full of laughter and smiles and taunts. Jared and Paul were just in the middle of a very funny, highly inappropriate story when the loud sound of a car engine and tires crunching over gravel hit my ears. The boys looked up and Seth went over to the window and said "It's Charlie's car, I think Bella's in the backseat, but I'm not sure. Are they eating dinner with us? Cause I was gonna eat those leftovers..." Seth's voice trailed off as some of us got up to go see what was happening. "Well don't just sit there, go invite them in" Emily told the group, ever the kind hostess. Jacob and I shared a look and got up to go greet my uncle and cousin.

The sky was bathed in the dying sunlight, turning it into beautiful hues of red, orange, gold and pink. But my attention snapped to Charlie as he yelled out "Hey Katie! We've got a surprise for you!" Bella jumped out of the backseat, hmm that was odd, why would Bella be riding in the backseat and not the front? I got my answer a second later when a masculine body stepped out of the cruiser and turned to me.

When I saw his face my heart gave a screech and dove behind my spine, my lungs refused to fill with air and I could feel my face drain of color. My father. He was here. He was here.

Both my hands reached out and grabbed Jacobs arm, I uncontrollably took a half step behind him so that half my body was covered from my fathers view. Jake looked down at my inquisitively and with concern, but without question took a step forward so he was in front of me in a protective stance. I just held his arm tighter and held in a whimper of fear as my father approached with Charlie and Bella in tow.

Of course. Of course he would find me. My thoughts were cut off as they approached. The door opened behind me and the rest of the group walked out side with curiosity written all over their faces. No. No, no, no, no. They were all going to see know, see how broken and ruined I was. My only true friends were finally going to see me in all my ugly truth. My breathing rate increased and I knew I was hyperventilating, Jacob was murmuring something to me but I couldn't hear it over the roaring in my head. Charlie was still smiling and said "He called and said he was missing you, so we flew him out as a surprise. Isn't that great?" I couldn't find my voice to respond.

The walk took them years but it was still too soon when they stopped in front of us and my father held out his arms for me as if wanted to go anywhere near that horrible man and said in a sickly sweet voice "Darling. You left without saying goodbye." I shuddered. That voice, that face, it all haunted my nightmares and chased around dark thoughts in the back of my mind. I took a half step back, still holding onto Jacob and my fathers fake mask dropped and rage overtook his features as he lunged too quick for anyone to notice and ripped me away from Jacob.

He pulled me too his side, each point of contact unbearable. One hand digging his nails so hard into my arm that he tore skin and drew blood. The other gripping my hair so tightly that I winced. By the time my brain was processing again I heard a feral growl rip out of Jacob and the other boys throats, even little Seth, and such primal rage and protectiveness cover their faces, especially Jakes, that my I felt my fathers heart beat stutter. But then to everyone's surprise, he laughed.

He laughed and laughed and said "Oh this is too good! You all think Katie here is so pure and innocent?" He yanked my head back by my hair. I heard Charlie cut in "What are you doing, Steve?" But his hand was yanking at the bottom hem of my shirt. I thrashed against his grip, but he got my shirt up and over my head. He dug his nails into my shoulders and turned me so my back was facing them. My skin prickled as the wind hit it. I stood in front of them in a sports bra, my back and all it's imperfections utterly exposed. I heard a sharp intake of breath from my family behind me and that snapped the tether of his hold on me. I pulled with all my strength and slipped out of his hands, then without looking back, I did what I do best.

I ran.

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