"I tried so hard

And got so far

But in the end

It doesn't even matter"

-Linkin Park

TJ was running through the forest the next day when she caught sight of Bella's red truck at Billy's house. She followed her and cursed when she saw Jacob walking to his house in the pouring rain. She knew that stupid mono excuse wasn't enough to keep Bella away. Paul said that all Jacob thought about during patrol was how guilty he felt about leaving Bella after he promised he wouldn't. By the time TJ got there, Bella had a heartbroken look on her face.

"Jacob!" They looked over to see TJ jogging up to them. "Everything alright here?" Jacob nodded without looking at her.

"Go home and don't come back Bella or you're going to get hurt." Jacob said and jogged away towards the guys who were watching from the tree line.

"What's going on TJ?"

TJ felt bad for the girl, she lost her boyfriend and now her best friend but she was loyal to Sam and their tribe secrets. Telling her could endanger the whole pack and she wasn't going to risk that.

"I can't say, I'm sorry Bella."

She took one last look at her friend before she ran towards Paul, who was still waiting for her. Each step she took away from Bella, felt like she was crossing oceans to get away from her. But she vowed to protect the brown eyed girl, even if that meant hurting her in the process.

*

"You've seriously got to stop making this a habit." She rubbed her eyes as she opened her front door.

It was nearing 1am and she opened the door to see Jacob. He didn't smile at her joke or even acknowledge that he even heard her, he just looked at her with his sad brown eyes. She ushered him inside and walked into the kitchen.

"What's on your mind kid?" She asked as she began making them both some tea.

Tea fixes everything, at least that's what her mom always said.

"I just feel like such a jerk, I promised her that I wouldn't leave her and here I am, leaving her."

"Listen, no one could've predicted that things would turn out like this; except for me." He furrowed his brows and accepted the tea that she gave him. "I didn't find out about Sam because he told me, he had to keep it a secret like you do. I found out because I'm smart and I'm able to connect the dots and piece everything together. Sam knew this about me, I'm more of a fade to the background kind of girl. I watch and I wait, always part of the action but never the direct cause of it. Ya know?"

"Is that why you were always so quiet in school?"

"Sorta. Sam was obviously too old to be hanging around the school so I was the one who did the... scouting if you will. I don't put myself in the mix of anything unless I've analyzed the situation."

"Sounds annoying."

She laughed, "Trust me, having to watch over you all before you turned was extremely annoying."

It's like he suddenly came to this life changing revelation, "So that's why you were always around?"

"Duh, you think I'd actually want to watch you all day like some weird pedo?"

Jacob laughed, "You know, for an Ice Queen, you're actually not that bad."

She was happy that no one actually called her that to her face, she probably would've punched them.

"So I've been told." She drawled. "Just be careful kid, Bella isn't an idiot and I'd hate for you to be the one who ends up looking like an ass when she finds out the truth."

*

"Let's go hiking." Bella suggested.

TJ arched a brow at her friend and reached over to put a hand to her forehead. "Are you feeling okay because it sounded like you wanted to go hiking."

"I'm fine and I do want to hike."

"If this is one of your schemes to see Edward again, count me out."

As much as Jacob indulged in her sudden need to risk her life, TJ wasn't for it. She didn't want to waste her time trying to keep Bella alive if that's not what she wanted. Bella claimed she wasn't suicidal but getting on some strangers bike in Port Angeles seemed a little out there.

"It's not, I swear."

She studied her friend for a few more seconds before she sighed, "Fine, let's go." TJ figured that while they were out in the woods, she could teach Bella how to fight.

In no time at all, they arrived at a dead meadow that TJ could tell, how beautiful it had been at one point. Bella was looking at it as if it swallowed her cat and TJ knew that this place was of significance to her.

The change in wind made TJ quickly pull Bella behind her as she caught sight of the dread headed vampire from the baseball game, Laurent.

"I came to see the Cullens, but I found their home empty."

"You should know, vampires don't age, so someone was bound to get suspicious." TJ said.

"I'm surprised they left the human behind."

"They left her with me, so go back to wherever you came from." TJ threatened.

Laurent smirked and recognition gleamed in his eyes. "You must be the girl that escaped Victoria."

"She's lucky I didn't kill her." She motioned Bella to take a step back, but never took her eyes away from her target.

"She didn't mentioned that you weren't fully human, tell me child, what are you?"

"I'm not telling you anything, now get the fuck out of here."

"I'm here as a favor." Laurent says, that stupid smile still on his face.

"From?" Bella asks, speaking for the first time.

"Victoria. She wanted to see if the girl was still under the Cullens protection. Victoria thinks it's only fair, since Bella has killed her mate, an eye for an eye."

"Then why'd she send her pet to relay the message? Or is she afraid that she'll die like her lover?"

"She's threatened by what you are. She has plans for your deaths but I will be merciful."

As if this vampire could think he had a chance at taking her on. Only problem is that Bella is around and she couldn't fight him without revealing herself. Not only that, she'd be too preoccupied with keeping Bella safe, that Laurent would surely use that to his advantage.

TJ could feel the pack close in on them and confirmed her suspicions when she heard a twig snap and a loud growl.

She knew that Laurent could hear them too. "I don't believe it..." He trailed off in disbelief.

The rest of the pack came out and Bella gasped behind her in fear.

"Bella, get out of here." TJ advised the wolves went after the vampire.

She kept her promise to Edward, today at least.