“Bring it on, Mutt.”

Jacob and I glared at each other for a while, but then suddenly, Bella broke the silence.

“Oh my goodness. You two are serious! I can’t believe you!” she yelled.

“Bella, it’s all going to be okay. Neither of us is going to kill the other, right Jacob?” I could hear Jacob’s thoughts and he was feeling pain for causing Bella pain, but he moved those thoughts aside and made his face into a hard mask.

“Yeah, that’s right, Leech. Sorry, Bells—I mean, Isabella—I mean Leech. Gah!” Jacob was obviously frustrated at his failed attempts of trying to be mean to Bella.

“Why, Jake? Why are you being like this? We’re supposed to be best friends! I thought you’d said that that fact would never change!” Bella said, sadness creeping into her voice.

Dammit, I did say that, and I really want to be friends with her . . . But Leah . . . She’ll be pissed if I do. I would never be this mean to Bella, or even to Edward, if it wasn’t for Leah. Leah hates Bella and wanted me to destroy her. Of course, I can’t do that! Can I? No! Of course not! I must simply fight her . . . husband! I wish she hadn’t married him. Oh well, what’s done is done. Can’t go back now. No matter what. I’ll just have to fight Edward and not break him. Jacob’s thoughts were a mess.

“I’m sorry, Bella, but things change. You turned into one of them, so I have no choice but to fight your leech. Sorry.”

“Just . . . Please! Be safe. For me? And please, don’t harm Edward. Please, Jacob, please.” Bella started dry sobbing and I held on to her tighter. Serena looked like she was concentrating really hard on something. Her eyes were fixed on Jacob’s face.

Suddenly, Jacob said, “Okay. That’s a lie. The only reason I’m being so mean and fighting Edward and calling you a bloodsucker is because of Leah. She made me be a jerk to you. She made me be mean to you. I’m so sorry, Bells. I love you, you know that, don’t you? Of course, you’re still my best friend. Nothing can change that. I’m really, truly sorry.” Jacob said all that so fast that it was almost like he didn’t want to say it, but he was being forced to. Then I realized that it was due to my daughter. My little angel has done it again!