"We could be more than just friends Bella." Jacob grinned, throwing his shirt off and putting it in the back of the truck as we set off for our walk along the beach.
"You're a year younger than I am Jacob." I tried to let him down easy but he was becoming more persistent the more time me we spent together.
"But I'm more mature than most of the guys your age." Refusing to be deterred he kept walking alongside me.
"You're not acting it at the moment." It was a low blow I admit but it was all I had.
"Neither are you" He conceded and picked up the pace "You're turning me down out of habit, just like you did when anyone asked you out for the first six months after he left."
I could swear I saw a twinge of guilt flash across his eyes at those words, and he looked as if he were bracing himself for me to burst into tears. But the pain I had once felt at Edward leaving was now merely a pinprick compared to what it once was. Jacob was right though, as much as I hated to admit it. I had been to broken to think about dating anyone after Edward left. Now I was that used to saying 'no' that if someone I liked asked me out, I'd probably reflexively reject them before I even gave them a chance.
"I'm not" was the only defence I could muster.
"You say that now" Jacob gloated "but I know you want me"
"Ughh!" I groaned "I could just slap you!"
"Go on" Jacob winking with a flirty smile "for all you know I might be into that sort'a thing"
"Jacob!" I yelled as I stormed off along the beach.
"Come on Bells, don't be like that" Jacob placed his hands on my shoulders and spun me around. I just glared at him.
"Your sexy when you're mad" Jacob taunted, I eyed my fist but though better of it.. Realising that the truck was in the other direction I reluctantly turned around. I was faced with Jacob, sitting in the sand crying. I stared open mouthed. I didn't think I'd ever seen Jacob cry. Happy go lucky Jacob. And here I was, like a disease taking that away from him. I didn't deserve him. Jacob quickly attempted to regain poise and feigned a smile as he caught me staring open mouthed, but the tears running down his cheeks gave him away. I walked closer and sat beside him. Cupping his face in my hands I kissed him gently on the lips, surprising even myself. It had always been Jacob making the advances, pushing boundaries, And even then it was only ever on the cheek. Sure, I was just trying to comfort him but a hug would've sufficed. Jacob also seemed taken aback. Awkwardly, I pulled away and collapsed back onto the ground beside him in silence.
"That was just to-" I stammered.
"I know" interrupted Jacob, any happiness drifting from his eyes "just friends."
I knocked on Billy's door.
"Hey Bella," worry creased Billy's brow "Jacob's asleep."
"No problem, mind if I just chuck this back in his room. I held up the yellow shirt and Billy rolled his chair out of the way so I could go through to Jacobs room. I was careful to open the door quietly so as not to wake him up. He looked so much younger, so unguarded. He looked like my-Jacob when he slept. I crossed the room to his dresser.
"Mmmm." Jacob rolled over still in a deep sleep. Cute. He talked in his sleep.
"...look sexy in black lace Bells, love..." He rolled over slightly again and I quickly put his shirt down on the nearest flat surface and almost ran back to my truck.
"He's still asleep. Cya Billy." I called and waved as I slammed the door shut and drove off.
A few weeks had passed and semester was drawing to a close. Jacob had started, and almost finished another car he'd manage to salvage from the local dump, and with his study sessions Charlie had told me about I was confident he was going to get a good grade.
I reached for the phone and called Jacob. It had been a little over a week since I'd seen him, and he seemed a little off the last day we spent in his garage.
"Jacob here" he answered.
"Hey Jake, it's Bella" I said excited to talk to him again.
"Oh, hi" Jacob replied, a little unenthusiastically.
"It's been a few days since we've hung out, I was wondering if you wanna come over this Saturday, catch up on some homework and watch a movie."
"Oh, uh..sorry, I'm going to be busy all Saturday" Jacob replied, followed by some high pitched giggling in the background.
"Oh, okay, give me a call when you're free then" I answered, wondering who the girl with Jacob was.
"Sure, sure" he said followed by a crashing noise, and more giggling.
"Who was that" I barely heard the girl say.
"Oh, just a friend" he replied before hanging up the phone.
Just a friend. The words ran through my mind, over and over. Sure, I'd said we should just be friends. That doesn't mean Jake shouldn't be allowed to have a different girlfriend. Maybe I should even actually consider the next guy that asked me out.