*****UPDATED, OCTOBER 26th 2009*****

A couple of hours later, after surviving washing my truck with minimal injuries, I got in the shower and let the hot water relax my muscles. I checked out the scrapes on my knees from falling over the hose earlier, and sighed. "Just another scar to add to my collection" I grumbled. I really was a walking disaster at times. No wonder Edward was so adamant about protecting me.

I felt the pain wash over me, the memories threatening to buckle my knees. I put my hand against the shower wall, closing my eyes, breathing deeply, trying to stop the tears from falling. "Come on Bella, pull yourself together" I whispered. A few minutes passed and I finally composed myself enough to finish my shower.

I looked at myself in the mirror, towel drying my hair, noting the dark circles under my eyes and the pallor of my skin. "At least my eyes don't look as dead as they did before," I thought. I took a deep breath, shook my head to clear it, and finished drying. I wrapped the towel around myself and went to go find something to wear. It was still warm out, but I knew it would get chillier later, so I opted for a pair of old jeans, a black T shirt and a hoodie for later. I pulled my hair into a messy ponytail, threw my Keds on and left for La Push.

The drive down to La Push wasn't long, maybe a half an hour, and I let my mind wander. I was trying to remember my childhood visits with Jacob and Billy, but only had small flashes of recollection, mainly memories of spending time with them at First Beach. I remembered Jacob running and throwing himself on a sand castle I was making and chasing after him, throwing sand balls. I thought of the time he tried to gross me out by throwing a dead fish at me, but rather than revulsion, I passed out because there was a little blood on the fish. I was never good with blood, the smell of it would make my head spin and my stomach turn. I remembered the look on Jacob's face when I came to, the fear and panic on his face, followed by the relief that I was okay. Jake and I were close when we were younger, but since I'd moved back to Forks, we hadn't really rekindled our friendship.

Sure, there was the time I attempted to flirt with him, trying to get information about Edward and the Cullens. Then he showed up at my prom, giving me a cryptic message from Billy about dating a Cullen. Actually, that was the last time I had seen Jake. I wondered if he had gotten any bigger since then. Those Quileute boys all seemed to grow like weeds! I continued my musings, and before I knew it, I was in La Push.

I pulled up to the little red house where the Blacks lived, and pulled my truck into the gravel drive. Billy must have heard my truck, because he greeted me on the small porch as I got out of my truck.

"Bella! Its so nice to see you again! You shouldn't be such a stranger kiddo!" he said as I walked up to him.

I walked up the ramp that covered the stairs and leaned down to give him a hug. "Hi Billy, it's good to see you too. I do need to come and see you guys more often." Charlie and Billy have been friends since childhood, and he was like an uncle to me. "How have you been?" I asked him.

"Just getting old, kid. That and trying to keep Jake's stomach full without going broke" he laughed. I smiled, remembering how much Jacob could eat. He once ate 6 sandwiches and a giant bag of potato chips in one sitting.

"Where's he at, by the way?" I asked him.

"He's in back of the house, tinkering in the garage. Go on back, he's been looking forward to you coming by all morning."

"Thanks Billy" I replied, as I carefully walked down the wheelchair ramp. I was the only person I knew, who wasn't physically disabled, who could fall down a damn wheelchair ramp.

I walked to the rear of the house, and saw two guys flipping through a magazine, while another guy whom I assumed was Jake, was sprawled under an ancient looking red VW. The two boys looking at what turned out to be a girlie magazine jumped and quickly hid it from view as they saw me approaching. They were both Quileute; russet skin and jet black hair. That was where the similarities ended. They were both larger than your average teenage boy, each being over six feet in height. The tall, lanky one blushed deep red, knowing that I saw what they were looking at, while the shorter, stockier one gave me a huge grin and stepped over to meet me.

"You must be Bella. It's really nice to finally meet you. I'm Quil, and the blushing bride over there is Embry" he said, while taking my hand and dragging me into the garage. Embry punched him in the arm, and extended his hand to mine, shaking it.

"It's nice to meet you Bella" he shyly said.

"Hey Jake! You didn't tell us how hot Bella was! Are you holding out on us, man?" Quil shouted to the supine form under the VW.

"You're going to be holding onto a ripped off piece of your male anatomy if you keep it up QUIL" Jacob grumbled from under the car. He finished up whatever he was working on and slid out from under it. He stood up slowly, brushing the dirt off of his clothing, attempting to make himself a little more presentable. I was right, he had grown even more. He had to be at least six foot seven now, and had bulked up too. He was no longer the gangly boy I remembered from last year. He was now a man, and a very good looking one at that. I blushed at my thoughts, my hand tucking hair behind my ear nervously.

Next thing I knew, I was being crushed in a huge bear hug from Jake.

"Bells, I'm so glad you decided to come down today! It's been way too long since we've hung out!" I remembered his pet name for me when we were kids. He said it was because when I laughed, it sounded like little bells tinkling. I remember thinking he was nuts.

"Can't. Breathe. Jake." I gasped. His body was so hot! Maybe he was sick or something. Nobody could feel that warm, could they? Maybe it was just me, because I have felt so cold for so long.

"Oops! Sorry Bells, I guess I get carried away sometimes, huh?" he grinned at me. I blushed again, thinking again how much he had changed, and how attractive he was.

"Ahh, Bells, I see you still blush at the tiniest things. It's totally adorable. I've missed seeing it" he said as he ruffled up my hair. He turned his attention back to Embry and Quil.

"You guys, scoot! Especially you, Quil. Take your dirty magazine with you this time."

"Oh come on Jake, we just got here!" Quil whined. Embry just stood there, looking painfully shy, shyer than me, if that was at all possible.

"Embry, please, can you guys just give me an hour or so, so I can work on Bella's truck?" he asked, his voice a combination of annoyance and exasperation.

"Sure Jake, no problem. Are you going to the bonfire tonight Bella?" Embry asked.

"I'm not sure yet" I replied. "I'm just getting back to the land of the living and don't want to push myself too hard"

They looked at me sadly, almost like they knew what I was referring to.

"Well, hopefully you change your mind because it would be really nice to have you there."

"I'll think about it" I said smiling shyly and waving to them as they left.