I stared at him, frustrated. "That's mean."

"So are you."

That pulled me up short, and I took an involuntary step back. He was right. If I wasn't mean - and greedy, too - I would tell him I didn't want to be friends and walk away. It was wrong to try to keep my friend when that would hurt him. I didn't know what I was doing here, but I was suddenly sure that it wasn't good.

"Good," Edward said, now really liking the way she was thinking. "Get out of there."

"You're right," I whispered.

He laughed. "I forgive you. Just try not to get too mad at me. Because I recently decided that I'm not giving up. There really is something irresistible about a lost cause."

"Jacob." I stared into his dark eyes, trying to make him take me seriously. "I love him, Jacob. He's my whole life."

Esme smiled at that along with Edward, but she was beginning to look a little concerned about this conversation.

"You love me, too," he reminded me. He held up his hand when I started to protest. "Not the same way, I know. But he's not your whole life, either. Not anymore. Maybe he was once, but he left. And now he's just going to have to deal with the consequence of that choice - me."

Edward growled at that, obviously because the mutt had brought it up and that he couldn't help but agree with the statement.

I shook my head. "You're impossible."

Suddenly, he was serious. He took my chin in his hand, holding it firmly so that I couldn't look away from his intent gaze.

"Until your heart stops beating, Bella," he said. "I'll be here - fighting. Don't forget that you have options."

"I don't want options," I disagreed, trying to yank my chin free unsuccessfully. "And my heartbeats are numbered, Jacob. The time is almost gone."

"Don't make him mad," Edward muttered.

His eyes narrowed. "All the more reason to fight - fight harder now, while I can," he whispered.

Edward sighed and Alice rolled her eyes. You are not actually thinking it would be better if he won, are you?

Edward raised an eyebrow as if to say 'I might be.'

I know you want her to stay human, but honestly, Edward, to let him win... Alice just shook her head. Didn't you already learn this lesson, that she doesn't want anyone but you.

Edward sighed again, but smiled a little too.

He still had my chin - his fingers holding too tight, till it hurt - and I saw the resolve form abruptly in his eyes.

"N -" I started to object, but it was too late.

Sensing the danger here, Emmett snitched the book from Edward. It was probably just in time too, because his hands were clenched in tight fists as he growled and glared at the book.

His lips crushed mine, stopping my protest. He kissed me angrily, roughly, his other hand gripping tight around the back of my neck, making escape impossible. I shoved against his chest with all my strength, but he didn't even seem to notice.

Edward wasn't the only one growling at this point, and Rosalie's reaction seemed to almost as bad as his.

His mouth was soft, despite the anger, his lips molding to mine in a warm, unfamiliar way.

At that, Edward shuddered. He didn't like that for a very different reason.

I grabbed at his face, trying to push it away, failing again. He seemed to notice this time, though, and it aggravated him. His lips forced mine open, and I could feel his hot breath in my mouth.

Acting on instinct, I let my hands drop to my side, and shut down. I opened my eyes and didn't fight, didn't feel . . . just waited for him to stop.

"I'm going to break that stupid mutt's face," Edward growled. "How dare he do this!"

"It's appalling!" Esme said, looking really angry.

It worked. The anger seemed to evaporate, and he pulled back to look at me. He pressed his lips softly to mine again, once, twice . . . a third time. I pretended I was a statue and waited.

Finally, he let go of my face and leaned away.

"Are you done now?" I asked in an expressionless voice.

"Yes," he sighed. He started to smile, closing his eyes.

"Stupid mutt," both Edward and Rosalie said.

I pulled my arm back and then let it snap forward, punching him in the mouth with as much power as I could force out of my body.

At this, Emmett dropped the book. He was laughing so hard he couldn't seem to hold onto it. He wasn't the only one laughing at this one. It seemed like this had successfully broken some of the tension that had been building in the room.

"I can't believe she actually punched him!" Emmett was finally able to say.

"She does have quite the temper," Jasper said, laughing too.

"She has every right to punch that stupid mutt," Rosalie seethed. She was still angry, but obviously pleased with the way Bella had handled the situation. The only thing was... "I just wish it was you who was doing the punching," she turned to Edward who had a proud smile.

"So do I," Edward said.

"Are you kidding me? This is so much better!" Emmett laughed. "Imagine, little Bella punching the big bad wolf... hysterical!"

"I totally agree with you, Em," Alice laughed. "That was perfect."

After everyone settled down, Edward picked up the book. He seemed to think that he could handle reading now.

There was a crunching sound.

"Oh, dear... I hope she's okay," Esme gasped. The fact that she hadn't protested the punch in the first place said a lot about how she was feeling at the moment.

"Hm... she must have really punched him hard," Carlisle said, somewhere between amusement and concern. "She might have broken it."

Edward's proud smirk wavered a little as concern filtered his eyes.

"Ow! OW!" I screamed, frantically hopping up and down in agony while I clutched my hand to my chest. It was broken, I could feel it.

Jacob stared at me in shock. "Are you all right?"

"No, dammit! You broke my hand! "

Emmett chuckled at that.

"She hurt..." Edward started, though he too didn't look nearly as upset as he normally would have been when she was hurt.

"Yeah, because he broke her hand," Emmett continued to laugh.

"Bella, you broke your hand. Now stop dancing around and let me look at it."

"Don't touch me! I'm going home right now!"

"I'll get my car," he said calmly. He wasn't even rubbing his jaw like they did in the movies.

How pathetic.

"Don't worry, Bella. You'll be able to inflict real damage soon enough," Emmett laughed.

"No, thanks," I hissed. "I'd rather walk." I turned toward the road. It was only a few miles to the border. As soon as I got away from him, Alice would see me. She'd send somebody to pick me up.

"Just let me drive you home," Jacob insisted. Unbelievably, he had the nerve to wrap his arm around my waist.