It wasn't like I'd saved up enough to go anywhere special–and besides, I had no desire to leave Forks anyway. What difference would it make if I skimmed a little bit off the top?

Jacob just nodded. This all made perfect sense to him.

"Stupid mutt," Edward growled again.

As we skulked back to the makeshift garage, I contemplated my luck. Only a teenage boy would agree to this: deceiving both our parents while repairing dangerous vehicles using money meant for my college education. He didn't see anything wrong with that picture.

Jacob was a gift from the gods.

"That's the end of the chapter," Edward said.

"Good, I can't wait to see what's going to happen next!" Emmett laughed

Chapter Six

Friends

"Friends," Emmett read.

The motorcycles didn't need to be hidden any further than simply placing them in Jacob's shed. Billy's wheelchair couldn't maneuver the uneven ground separating it from the house.

Jacob started pulling the first bike–the red one, which was destined for me–to pieces immediately. He opened up the passenger door of the Rabbit so I could sit on the seat instead of the ground. While he worked, Jacob chattered happily, needing only the lightest of nudges from me to keep the conversation rolling. He updated me on the progress of his sophomore year of school, running on about his classes and his two best friends.

"Quil and Embry?" I interrupted. "Those are unusual names."

"Yeah, those names are really unusual," Emmett laughed.

"Like you're name is usual," Alice smirked.

"It was when I was born," Emmett pouted. "And it's coming back in style now, you just wait and see. Besides, it's not as bad as Carlisle or Esme or... er..." he added but cut himself off there.

"I prefer my name to be uncommon," Rosalie haughtily knowing what he was going to say. "It makes me more distinguished."

Jacob chuckled. "Quil's is a hand-me-down, and I think Embry got named after a soap opera star. I can't say anything, though. They fight dirty if you start on their names–they'll tag team you."

"Good friends." I raised one eyebrow.

"No, they are. Just don't mess with their names."

Just then a call echoed in the distance. "Jacob?" someone shouted.

"Is that Billy?" I asked.

"No." Jacob ducked his head, and it looked like he was blushing under his brown skin.

"Speak of the devil," he mumbled, "and the devil shall appear."

"Or wolves," Emmett chuckled.

"Jake? Are you out here?" The shouting voice was closer now.

"Yeah!" Jacob shouted back, and sighed.

"He doesn't want his friends infringing on his time with Bella," Emmett teased.

"Sssssffff…" Edward hissed.

We waited through the short silence until two tall, dark-skinned boys strolled around the corner into the shed.

One was slender, and almost as tall as Jacob. His black hair was chin-length and parted down the middle, one side tucked behind his left ear while the right side swung free. The shorter boy was more burly. His white T-shirt strained over his well-developed chest, and he seemed gleefully conscious of that fact. His hair was so short it was almost a buzz.

Both boys stopped short when they saw me. The thin boy glanced swiftly back and forth between Jacob and me, while the brawny boy kept his eyes on me, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"Great," Edward hissed again.

"She seems to pick up admirers everywhere she goes," Emmett laughed.

"Hey, guys," Jacob greeted them halfheartedly.

"Hey, Jake," the short one said without looking away from me. I had to smile in response, his grin was so impish. When I did, he winked at me. "Hi, there."

"Quil, Embry–this is my friend, Bella."

Quil and Embry, I still didn't know which was which, exchanged a loaded look.

"It looks like the pup talked about her a lot," Alice teased.

"That's fine," Edward said. "Bella didn't talk about him."

"I don't think that's going to be true for much longer," Alice smirked and Edward groaned again.

"Charlie's kid, right?" the brawny boy asked me, holding out his hand.

"That's right," I confirmed, shaking hands with him. His grasp was firm; it looked like he was flexing his bicep.

"I'm Quil Ateara," he announced grandly before releasing my hand.

"Nice to meet you, Quil."

"Hey, Bella. I'm Embry, Embry Call–you probably already figured that out, though." Embry smiled a shy smile and waved with one hand, which he then shoved in the pocket of his jeans.