Bella's POV

I looked up at Jacob as he drove my truck to his house. I appreciated his warmth, around me, while our clothes were soaking wet from my idiotic cliff diving experiment. I could still see the fiery water in my head still. She was that close to me. Victoria. What if Jacob hadn't come to rescue me? What if Victoria accomplished what she came here for, killing me. Would anything I did to keep Edward in my thoughts have been worth it? No. Jacob was right. Edward left me, alone. Not even realizing the danger I was in. I let out a big sigh…

"What were you thinking, Bells? I already told you that cliff diving from that level is dangerous." Jacob said.

"I wasn't thinking. I know. It was stupid of me but I just… I don't know. I just needed a rush. I won't do it again, promise."

We arrived at his house and he parked my truck. There was a heavy downpour of rain and we just sat there, thinking about what just happened.

He said, "You're right, Bells. You won't do that again. I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

"You don't have to protect me all the time, Jacob. I feel bad enough that I'm the reason Victoria is here to begin with."

"The pack will take care of her, I promise. But in the meantime I'm not letting you out of my sight. Let's get you in the house so you can change out of those wet clothes. You'll get pneumonia."

We ran from the truck and into the heavy rain and into his house. I was shivering, realizing that Jacob's warmth was the only thing that held me together. He motioned me to follow him into his bedroom. As we entered, I held my hands across my chest trying to hold my discomfort in.

"Ummmm… let me see what you can wear." He said. "Then I'll put your clothes in the dryer. Can't have you going back home to Charlie looking like a mess."

He searched his drawers looking for something I could slip in to. As he looked, I wandered around his tiny room. Looking outside his window at the pouring rain. A cloud of water covered his entire window. On the nightstand next to his bed, a small heart shaped piece of candy caught my eye. I picked it up. It said Be Mine. I was quickly reminded of the conversation hearts that Jacob gave me for Valentine's Day. That was the day I promised him a lifetime of servitude. I smiled at the memory.

"Found something." Jacob said. "This shirt and boxes will have to do while we wait for your clothes to dry."

"That's fine Jake."

I took them in my hand and waited for him to leave the room so I can change. But he was searching his drawers, again, for something that he could change in to as well. I forgot that he was just as soaked as I was. I turned around with my back to Jacob.

"Ummm… you stay on that side of the room, ok? And don't peak over here while I change." I laughed, jokingly.

He laughed. "No problem Bells."

I faced the wall next to his bed and proceeded to pull the wet shirt over my head. I pulled down the straps of my bra and proceeded to unhook the back. Conscious of the fact that I was bare breasted in Jacob's room, I looked up and over my shoulder to see if Jacob was staring at me. He wasn't. He had his back to me against the opposite wall but I watched as he proceeded to pull down his wet shorts and boxers to his ankles then kicked them to the side. I don't know why I was staring. There was my best friend, naked. His body was… magnificent. He never wore a shirt but I had never stopped to notice the strong contours of physique. How his muscles were so cut and defined. My eyes glided down his backside and my cheeks were flushed. Why was I staring? Why did I secretly want him to turn around so I could see his front side? I had never seen or thought of Jacob this way.

I took a huge gulp and turned back around and unbuttoned my jeans. The feeling of sliding the wet jeans from my legs was uncomfortable. Now realizing that I couldn't wear wet panties, I took those off as well. The cold air hit my body like icicles. I let my bare body dry off for a little bit and then proceeded to put on Jacob's boxers. The image of Jacob's beautiful backside was still on my mind and I turned my head around, instinctively. Our eyes met. We both caught each other, taking a peak. But this time, he was wearing shorts.

"Uhhh sorry Bells." He said. "I thought you were done changing."

I shook my head. "Uhh, that's okay."

I quickly pulled his shirt over my head, picked up my wet clothes and handed them over to him. He left the room to put them in the dryer and I stood there, flushed with embarrassment. I sat on the edge of his bed with my arms crossed against my chest. My breasts were unsupported, after all. He came back and stood at the doorway.

"How are you feeling?" He said.

"I'm better, thanks. But I'm tired… exhausted."

"Bells, go ahead and sleep."

He proceeded to walk towards me and grabbed the blanket at the foot of his bed. I laid down and he put the blanket across my body and sat next to me. I sighed with exhaustion. He brought his hand up to my face and brushed the hair away from my eyes.

He was serious now. "You know what the worst part about today was, Bells?"

"No… what?"

"That I thought I lost you. That somehow I might have failed and lost you."

"Jake…"

"I mean, just the thought of me not making it in time. I don't know how I would live with myself Bella."

We were silent, just listening to the rain. He looked out the window and I looked at him, realizing how much concern was written across his face. He cared for me. He didn't want to lose me. He turned his face and looked down at me.

"It was pretty scary today, Bells."

"Jake, listen. I'm fine. Everything is fine. The pack will find Victoria and things will go back to normal."

"But you and I aren't fine."

"What do you mean Jake?"

"Listen, you already how I feel about you, Bells. I… I want to be more than your friend. And my position still stands. I would never hurt you. I promise to never let anything bad happen to you, ever. I will always be here. We've both messed up in the past but that won't happen again."

"Jake. I don't know what to say…"

"Bella, I love you. There, I said it. I love you. You should already know that. And I know you feel something for me too. You and I… we're not meant to be just friends."

I looked at him and I knew this was true. My best friend, my sun, my protector… my Jacob. I sat up in front of him and just stared at his face. He needed my comfort. He needed me. The thought of losing me, scared him. I had put him through so much and never even thanked him. I lifted my arm and with my fingers, brushed them against his cheek and through his hair. He closed his eyes, pleased with the way I touched him. I was starting to see Jacob in a different light. He wanted to be everything I needed… he was everything I needed. And in that moment I realized that I didn't want to lose him either. The thought of losing him scared me too. And he was right, we weren't meant to be just friends. I never wanted to be away from him either… I needed him just as much as he needed me. I… I loved him. No, I am in love with him.

"Jacob. I… I never want to lose you. You have been everything to me and… and I do love you too."