Bella looked more extraordinarily beautiful in this light; her radiance glowing in the gentle light of the sunset. She tilted her head back somewhat, her long hair winding into mahogany curls, tickling her elbows, but she was not bothered by it. Her eyes closed and her eyelashes entwined, and a smile won itself onto Bella's face. She turned to face me, her eyes copper, framed by her thick, long eyelashes. I couldn't see how she could think herself of anything plain – she was stunning, everything about her was amazing, there was just something about her and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Her arms were behind her, holding her slim body up, two of her thin fingers tapping as if to a melody in her head, like singing a song in her mind. Her expression became more bemused.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

I realised I had just been gazing at her, trying to get inside her head, to understand her strange beauty. I chuckled to myself, trying to take in the moment, her face in its sincere perfection, to make the seconds immortal. I never wanted the minute to end. It's not like me to be so compassionate – I'm a guy, but Bella is like no one I've ever known. I would die for just a flicker of her smile. I would take a bullet for this girl. I think it's called love. But, I am pretty whacked anyhow – you can check my blood for that kind of crap.

"What?" She said softly in response to my low chuckle, an almost rhetorical question – she knew where this was going.

"Nothing," I reached up, before she could speak and drew a strand of her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. I felt the electricity pass briefly between us – it was something I had become accustomed to, but could never quite get over it. Her skin was soft and cool as my hand brushed across it; her hair was like newly spun silk. She took it back again; and smiled a little. She smiled a lot near me; it was a rare thing for some people, but her eyes just seemed to smoulder into mine, as her grin got wider, her pointed, pearl-white teeth glinting at the faint light.

She looked into my eyes, more deeply than before, a small crease developing in the middle of her forehead, her eyes creasing in the corners, as if she was concentrating hard and puzzled. She put her hand around her waist, against her cornflower blue blouse, her hand delicate as the thin cotton.

"Nothing," I repeated, and rolled on my side so I could see her more properly. She also lowered herself down, embracing her head with her hands, our heads at the same height. I could put my hand on top of hers, I could see. I wasn't going to give up that easily. I took her hand off her waist and clasped it in mine, she cringed at the warmth of my hand contrasting against her cool skin, but I grinned and she turned her hand palm up. I entwined our fingers without even looking, but I liked the alternating colours – creamy brown and ivory.

It didn't mean anything – holding hands, although I could feel the blood rushing violently in my ears. She was wearing the bracelet I had given her – it was a Quileute thing really. I made it, it had taken me days and days, but I wanted it to be perfect, like she was to me. It was thin and silver, with a few indigo strands tangled with it, matching her shirt. It was a little big for her wrist, but she had thin, delicate wrists. Bella was incredibly delicate.

"I'm still going, Bella."

Bella looked at me like I was going crazy, a bewildered expression widening on her face.

"No you're not."

Bells was so stubborn sometimes, I felt like just leaving her lying in this field, but I liked her too much. That was the problem – I liked Bella way too much for my own good. She still hadn't figured out whether she liked me too. I was about to scold her, but I didn't, I just stayed where I was, never looking away from her eyes. Because I couldn't. She had a grasp on me, if I let go, if I looked away for a second, she might just disappear from me. She was too perfect. I hardly deserved to be her friend, let alone anything more.

Get a hold of yourself, Jake. Nothing else is going to happen. You and Bella are just friends.

I don't believe in myself anymore, I don't believe that Bella and I are just friends, she is my best friend, and I love her, more than I should do. Sometimes I get impatient with myself, impatient with Bella. I wished she would just realise how much I am in love with her. I wished she knew my pain. Maybe she does. That freaking bloodsucker doesn't deserve to know anyone like Bella – he belongs where he was back before he was 'saved'. He belongs dead. How could he just leave her? To rot, to die, to age?

"How come?" I ignored the painful memories – the bloodsucker and Bella, sitting, laughing, him kissing her; she was totally hypnotised by him. I don't know if that was normal, but the parasite had Bella in a trance. In a second, he could just kill her. Like that. "Why should I not leave? Right now. I'll go." There was a little anger in my voice, and I struggled to control it. The memories were difficult to forget, and were fresh in my mind, burning my thoughts.

"Shut up, Jake."

"I'll go."

There was remorse in my voice.

"Jake," she said, sheepishly, a slight sigh in her tone. I don't know if she was thinking about the parasite, but she tried to let go of my hand. I loosen my grip slightly, but I raised her hand to my lips and kissed each of her fingers. She didn't struggle, she seemed happy enough at the moment; I didn't think I really should have been taking advantage of her, but I was feeling okay about it. Her skin was soft under my lips and I closed my eyes on every kiss. I wanted the moment to be perfect.

"Bella – I know I've told you before, but I can't get over it. And it sounds tacky and cheap, but I would take a bullet for you. Because you know what, Bells, I am in love with you, and nothing is about to change that. I want to spend every second of every day with you Bella. I like you so much it scares me. You remind me so much of my mother," I shuddered slightly, but Bella gripped my hands tighter. "And I don't know if you feel the same way, but as long as your heart is still beating, I am always going to be here, waiting. Because, you are all that I need. I am totally in love with you. I've never felt like this about anyone else before. I could tell you anything in the world, but you can already read me like a book"

Bella smiled slightly; probably an inside joke I'd never thought about – probably something between her and the parasite. Bella looked at my hand and hers, and stroked my hand with her thumb slowly and slightly against the top of my hand. Then, her gaze met mine, and it seemed like we were the only people alive, the only people ever who had existed, like if we looked away, we would die instantly. I could see she was a bit overwhelmed, but I felt a lot better telling her my whole story, how much I had felt from her, since I had realised I had loved her, which was really about the time we met years on from those fateful mud pie days. And I never wanted to let her go.

She looked deep in my eyes, as if she was trying to find the meaning of my existence, the reason behind my intense gaze. I didn't know myself what I wanted to find in Bella, why I wanted to and loved her so much. I wanted her to love me back.

Bella took in a deep breath, her cheeks blushing coral pink, her chocolate eyes glittering with unshed tears, her auburn hair awry and wild in the wind. "I love you too." She said softly. And she took in a breath as if she was about to say something else; and there was a pause. Bella bit her lip slightly, then realising she was doing it, stopped it.

But she didn't say anything more. I just looked at her, trying to remember all of her tiny little things that made her Bella, my head tilted a bit to the left, and she raised an eyebrow, her expression coy. It was amazing just to be her with her, to be so close to her. But sometimes, it felt so distant and far away from her, even though I could just reach out and kiss her. That was all I wanted to do in that moment, to kiss her, and to be with her forever. That wasn't exactly going to happen anytime soon, with her mind on Edward.

"Do you want to walk and talk?" She said, so slightly I nearly didn't hear it. Nothing can pass my supersonic ears.

"No. I want to stay here with you." I replied, and I could feel the tips of my ears going crimson.

"Are you going to leave me? I'll have nobody." Bella looked down at the sunset, and I could see she was thinking about him. She didn't like to say his name out loud – it probably hurt too much for her. She kept holding her waist across her stomach, as if there was a gaping hole, making her hurt inside. I just wanted to help her as much as I could, and if I scored in the process… It was harmless.

"You know what I want." I barked, my voice hoarse with the thoughts of Bella and me.

"You are really going to ask me that?" Bella replied, swallowing back her tears. She sat up quickly, letting go of my hand. Wiping her eyes on the back of her hand, she didn't turn back to me again. I think that leech must really have hurt her – but I wanted her more than she knew, more than the leech could ever had thought. We were supposed to be together.

"Yes." I said, ignoring my taunting thoughts. I wanted everything to be out in the open. I didn't want to keep any more secrets from Bella. She knew what I wanted and all I wanted was her.

She sighed, her cheeks flushing quickly before she wiped her eye again, taking the scarlet flash with her.