*AUTHOR'S NOTE

I'm not sure how time lines worked for soldiers and boot camp during the Vietnam War - I'm just guessing. So for the sake of fiction I hope that's ok with you readers. I'm just using the stuff I've seen in different movies and hopefully its believable.

In this story, Billy and Charlie do not know each other and Jacob and Bella are about the same age. Its just a simple story with Jacob and Bella as the primary characters.

Huge thanks to Pre-Readers Mist & Justy

and to

RockSteady54 for being my Beta!

-Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.-1967Bella Swan was not having a good day. She had one hour left of her shift and so far she had already broken two glasses, dropped a plate complete with burger and fries, then somehow managed to lose her order pad twice. She was just coming out of the kitchen with a plateful of food when she noticed a young soldier sitting in her section. After she successfully delivered the food to her customer, Bella walked up to the soldier who seemed more interested in the happenings outside than what was on his menu."Are you ready to order?" She asked him."Huh?" he glanced up at Bella. "Um yeah, a burger and fries would be great." When he looked at Bella and smiled, she noticed he was a Quileute from LaPush. It was odd to her to see him in in diner because people from LaPush never really came into Forks. They just seemed to keep to their own people.Bella smiled and said. "Sure, anything to drink?""A soda would be great," he answered.Bella nodded and walked away towards the kitchen. She managed to bump into a stool and drop her order pad. Embarrassed, she looked back at the young man and smiled meekly before disappearing into the kitchen with his order.The young man watched Bella walk away and couldn't help but smile when she clumsily walked into the stool. It wasn't until she looked back and smiled that he noticed her eyes. They were the kindest eyes he had seen in this town.He looked back towards the window at the kids playing jacks on the sidewalk. He suddenly felt all alone and scared at what was awaiting him in the months to come.Jacob Black was barely eighteen when he received his draft card. Less than a week later, he was being called to duty. He wasn't the only young man on the rez to get drafted, it seemed that every month there was another Quileute boy being shipped off to war. Not too many of them could afford to go to college so it left them wide open for the draft. This makes funerals on the reservation a frequent event.It was the shortest two weeks in his life while he waited for the day to arrive when he had to travel down south to training camp. His dad, being in a wheel chair, could not drive him into Forks to catch the train. So he bummed a ride with Sam who worked in Forks.Sam was a few years older and just recently married with a baby on the way. He did his best to give Jacob words of advice and promised him that the tribe would watch over his dad until Jacob came home. Billy Black, Jacob's father, was Chief of the tribe and respected by the Quileute Nation.

Jacob appreciated Sam's reassurance and knew he would keep his word. "You know we all love your dad and I will personally make sure to check on him everyday." Sam guaranteed Jacob. Jacob listened to Sam, but he was in a daze and found his thoughts drifting back to the day he got word that he was being called to serve.

Jacob had only seen his father cry twice. Once at Jacob's mother's funeral - when he was nine - and the second time, when Jacob got his draft card. At first, Jacob thought Billy took the news fine, but the same night he heard the quiet weeping of his father from his room. Jacob stood on the other side of his dad's bedroom door fighting back his own tears. It was at that point that he made a promise to himself and to his father that he would make it home safe.The day Jacob had to leave, he went to the garage and covered his old red truck with a tarp and patted the hood, "I'll be back home soon, lady - don't go anywhere."

He walked out of the garage to the bottom of the porch steps where his dad was waiting with Sam. Jacob ran his hands through his newly shorn hair, knowing at boot camp they would demand he cut his hair as soon as possible, he had his dad cut it before anyone else could get their hands on it. He missed his long hair, but had to admit, it definitely felt cooler this way.

"Hey there soldier - you ready to go?" Sam asked as he loaded Jacob's duffel bag into his car. "Sorry I have to make you leave so early, but I gotta be at work at 9am. There is a diner I can drop you off at just down the road from the bus station and you can grab some breakfast there."

"Sure, Sure." nodded Jake as he looked down to his dad. "I'm going to miss you old man." He bent over and gave his dad a hug. "Be safe son." Billy said trying to hold back tears. "Watch your back."

Jacob felt tears threatening in his own eyes and simply said. "Will do." Then turned and walked towards the car.

Although he didn't love the fact that he would be dropped off in Forks almost seven hours before his bus departure, Jacob was relieved he didn't have to hitch a ride into town. He was told to wear his uniform for the journey, he hadn't even put it on once since they gave it to him two weeks ago at his orientation. It was there that Jacob learned he would be stationed in an Oregon boot camp for an undisclosed amount of time.Sam dropped off Jacob outside the diner, which thank God was right across the street from the bus depot."Good Luck Jake. Make us proud," yelled Sam as he drove away.Jake waved to Sam and made his way into the diner and grabbed the first empty booth he saw. He didn't like coming to Forks. The people of Forks were not exactly welcoming to the people of LaPush. Jacob wasn't sure why, he never even bothered to ask his dad growing up, he just accepted the fact that Forks was not a place the Quileute people frequented.He was looking out the window watching some kids play, when he heard the most angelic voice."Are you ready to order?" The voice said.He looked up to where the voice was coming from and immediately forgot his words.After stumbling out his order, he watched the waitress walk away and bump into a stool. He laughed to himself and secretly hoped he had the same effect on her as she did on him. Then he realized that it didn't matter, its wasn't like he could pursue anything with this waitress. He was leaving for a year and may not come back. It hit him then, the fact that he could die over there and then his dad would be all alone. The Black family name would be lost forever.Jacob tried to shake the negative thoughts out of his head and looked around for his waitress. For some reason he felt drawn to her and then for an entirely different reason, he wanted to make sure she didn't drop his food on the way to the table.He saw her as she came out of the kitchen and was relieved when she cleared the stools without a collision. She caught his eye and smiled as she approached his table. "Here you go, burger and fries. Did you want anything else?"Jacob couldn't stop starring at her. She was beautiful in the most natural way. Her gorgeous brown eyes were so friendly and kind. He wished that he was more like his friend Quil, who would have easily been able to talk to this girl with more confidence."Uh, no thanks," Answered Jacob. "This is great".Bella could tell that this guy was shy and probably feeling a little on edge about being an outsider in the little diner. She tried to make conversation and help him feel more at ease."So, are you just coming home or shipping out?" She asked, hoping it wasn't too much of a personal question."I guess I'm shipping out," Jacob said. "But I'm heading to Boot Camp down in Oregon first.""Oh. I love Oregon, it's really beautiful this time of year."Jacob felt an unexplained pull towards Bella. The fact that he would most likely be gone for a year or perhaps never see this woman ever again, really didn't factor into the decision he made in this moment. He needed to get to know this girl better."Do you want to sit down and have a soda or a shake with me?" He asked trying to keep his voice calm. "You look like you need a break.""Oh," laughed Bella. "Are you referring to my inability to walk straight? Well, that's natural for me - it doesn't matter how long I've been on my feet, I sill manage to walk into inanimate objects.""No, not all," He stammered. "It's just, I have another six hours left before my train and I'm kinda feeling like I don't belong here … in this town … I thought maybe you would like to sit and talk with me for awhile?"Bella's heart was ready to explode. This guy seemed so genuine and she really would love nothing more than to sit down and talk with him, but she knew Carl, her boss, would get angry if she just plopped down beside a customer to chat."I can't." She answered.Jacob's face dropped. "Yeah I get it, you shouldn't really be seen with someone from the reservation.""No, no, no! That's not it at all," Bella said apologetically. "It's just my boss is …" She looked over her shoulder. "Well, he's kinda not too friendly. But listen," she added. "I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go talk without you feeling uncomfortable."Jacob smiled. "Sounds great. I'll wait right here."Bella nodded and walked away."Wait!" Jacob called after her. "I don't know your name?""It's Bella," She answered. "What about yours soldier?""Jacob."

And with that, Bella's mouth curved into a sweet smile and said. "OK Jacob, sit tight and finish your lunch."