I sat in the garage, watching Jacob as he worked on who knows what, chattering away happily. I couldn't help but smile, but to be content in his presence. I had always believed that I would never care for him the same way he did for me; that my love for him was purely that of a dear friend, almost an older sister watching out for her mischievous, danger-seeking younger brother.

But as he continued to speak, I looked into his face, the smooth expanse of his dark skin and it's contrast with his brilliantly white teeth. He really was beautiful.

My memory took me further, as I remembered that it was HIS strong arms pulling me to safety, after I idiotically leaped to what could have quite possibly been my death. He was there. He saved my life. And as I remembered this there was another fluttering in my stomach, and I suddenly wanted to be in those arms again.

"No, Bella." I thought. "No. Maybe Edward is never coming back. Maybe even hearing of that stupid stunt you pulled couldn't bring him home. But you still love him, right?"

"Maybe," I answered myself. "But you also love Jacob. YOU. LOVE. JACOB." I knew those words in my head were true. And I wanted Jacob to know that they were true.

I jumped up from where I perched on a stack of boxes, and covered the space between Jacob and I in two long strides. He had stopped talking, and was looking at me with a curious, almost wary expression on his handsome face.

"Jacob…" I muttered, reaching for his hand. He took mine, and stood up. Grease coated both his arms, and spreading across his chest, but I didn't care.

"Bella, what's wrong? Did I do something? What's going on?! He seemed on the verge of a slight panic, as I stood silently gazing at him. I giggled; out of nervousness, or out of pure delight at my realization, I wasn't sure.

I reached up, almost needing to stand on the very tips of my toes, and grasped Jacob around his neck, pulling his face closer to me.

"Bella…?" He asked quietly, not daring to believe that I was actually behaving in this way. I didn't let him continue…I stretched my neck, until my lips met his. His arms wound around me, pulling me closer, and I could feel him smile.

He pulled away slightly. "What has gotten into you? Not that I'm complaining…"

"Jacob, you have been right. You've always been right. We should be together…I love you, and not like a brother. You are my sun. My own personal sun. If I ever lost you, if I didn't have you in my life, every single day, I would freeze up and die."

He laughed, first at my metaphor, and then continued laughing. He was happy, truly happy. And nothing made me feel better than knowing that I had done that for him. I wanted to make him happy for the rest of our lives.

"Silly Bella…I'm the one who would be lost without you." And he wrapped his arms around me again, squeezing me so tightly that I was lifted off the ground. I began to cry, but they were tears of joy.

We sat on the ground, I on his lap, and he stroked my hair as I cried these happy tears into his shoulder and strong chest. Whenever I looked up into his face, he would smile broadly, and kiss me gently on the forehead or nose. I put my hand on his face and kissed his lips.

"Jacob, my Jacob," I said quietly, and held him tight. He would be my Jacob forever.