Title: Mistletoe
Series: New moon
Character POV: Jacob Black
Pairing : Jacob/Bella
Jacob has never understood much about Christmas traditions.
He doesn't understand the need to go out and find a Christmas tree. Especially not if you're just going to burn it a couple of weeks later. Never has he understood the need to wish for a white Christmas. This is Forks. It's not like there's much need to wish. It snows every year. He doesn't understand the need for hot chocolate or marshmallows.
He understands the presents. But he guesses that's normal.
He's never understood Christmas. Never thought much about it. But his father loves Christmas. And Jacob knows that it is because his mother loved Christmas. So he never tells his father this. That year, like every year, they end up at the Swan residence. And Jake is happy. Because it means that for the first time he'll be spending Christmas with Bella. He looks forward to that at least.
It doesn't take him long to realize it's not Bella.
She's like a ghost. It almost pains him to look at her. And for the first time he completely agrees with everybody on the rez. He hates the Cullen's. Hates them for what they did to that beautiful happy girl he saw last year on the beach. She looks at him and smiles. The smile never reaches her eyes. But from the look on Charlie's face it's more than she's been able to do. He supposes that something.
It's not until much later that they literally bump into each other.
He looks in her eyes for the first time. And he sees so much pain. And he just wants to reach out and take it all away. But he can't. Not until she lets him. But when she does he'll be there, waiting for her. His father clears his throat and looks at something above them. Mistletoe. Jake has never understood much about that either. Why hang those things around? They are not even very pretty. They're just branches really. He looks at Bella. She smiles.
Suddenly she kisses him.
And sure it's just on his cheek. But that doesn't matter – none of it matters – because Bella kissed him. And he's sure he's bright red. But that doesn't matter either. Because she looks at him and she smiles. For the firs time she really smiles. And he sees that sparkle in her eyes that was there before. And sure it's gone quick but still it was there. 'Tradition' She says. Then she turns and walks away. And he just stands there. Bright red. Grinning like an idiot.
No Jacob Black doesn't understand much about Christmas traditions.
But he definitely understands about the mistletoe now.
