I have ALWAYS been team Edward, as far as Twilight goes, and I don't think the Saga would be the same if Bella had ended up with Jake, we wouldn't have gotten Renesme and all things Breaking Dawn. But with that being said, I think the story of Bella and Jake should be told, too. I know there are TONS of Bella/Jake fics out there, but I wanted to try my hand at it. I hope you enjoy my version. This first chapter is fairly slow and picks up when Bella, Jake and Mike are on their way to the movies, it pretty much follows New Moon with only a few subtle changes. Things will really start to change in the next chapter, I just wanted to establish where we were in the story. I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I most definitely do not own New Moon...all credit goes to the most awesome Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 1: Paris and Juliet

On our way to the movies Jake was his normal sunny self, chattering away until I'd all but forgot about Mike, who was sulking silently in the backseat. But then Mike decided to switch strategies. He leaned forward, resting his chin on the shoulder my seat; his cheek almost touching mine. I shifted so that he was no longer touching me, I always get an uneasy feeling when Mike tries to touch me.

"Doesn't the radio work in this thing?" Mike asked, interrupting Jake mid-sentence.

"Yeah, but Bella doesn't like music." Jacob replies, shrugging his shoulders.

I turned to look at Jacob in surprise, I'd never told him that. Jake really gets me.

"Bella?" Mike asks, seemingly annoyed that Jake knows more about me than him.

"He's right," I mumble, a blush spreading across my cheeks as I look at Jacob's serene profile.

"How can you not like music?" Mike demanded.

"I don't know, I just don't."

Mike leaned away, giving up on trying to interact with me until we arrive at the theater.

...

"Hey, Bella, you're going to have to get my ticket." Jake says handing me a ten, "I'm not old enough to get into this one.." he trails off.

I laugh, "So much for relative ages. Is Billy going to kill me if I sneak you in?" I tease.

"No. I told him you were planning on corrupting my youthful innocence."

I giggle, a blush creeping up on my cheeks again. Mike quickens his pace to keep up with us, not wanting to miss out on anything. I almost wish that Mike had decided not to come. He was being sullen. But I wasn't sure if I wanted to end up on a date alone with Jacob either. That certainly wouldn't help anything.

...

I sat between Jacob and Mike, both of them as close to me as possible. The movie was all it promised to be. Al guts and gore, I ignored the story line and watched the colors on the screen, not really paying attention. Until I heard Jake snicker.

"What?" I whisper leaning closer to Jacob so I could hear his reply.

Jake stretched his arm over my shoulder and pulled me a little closer and whispered in my ear, "Oh, c'mon! the blood squirted twenty feet out of that guy. How fake can you get?" He chuckled again, his lips tickled my ear. A shiver went down my spine and I pulled away slightly. Jake was not deterred, though, he left his arm around my shoulder, earning himself a glare from Mike.

After that I really watched the movie. I laughed with Jacob as the movie got more and more ridiculous. How was I ever going to fight the blurring lines of me and Jake's relationship if I enjoyed being with him so much? I was really enjoying the feel of his arm resting on my shoulder and without thinking I lean into him a little.

I notice Mike lean forward and put his head in his hands, at first I thought he was pissed about me cuddling up to Jacob, but then he moaned.

"Mike, are you ok?" I whisper.

He groaned again, "No, I think I'm sick." He got up and bolted to the door.

I got up and followed him and Jacob was close behind. "You can stay and watch the movie, Jake," I say, but he follows me on up the aisle.

"Bella, you sure know how to pic then, this movie sucks anyway!"

There was no sign of Mike in the hallway, so Jake ducked into the men's room to check for him there.

He came back out quickly. 'Oh, he's in there, and probably wll be for a bit."

Jake went and sat on a bench sitting against the wall, patting the seat next to him. I joined him, reluctantly, he looked like he was planning on blurring more lines. As I suspected, as soon as I sat down, Jake shifted and place his arm around my shoulders again.

"Jake," I said, trying to lean away. Where does he get his confidence from? I wonder to myself.

"Tell me something." Jake says in a calm voice.

"What?" I whisper, trying not to enjoy the feeling of Jake's arm around me.

"You like me, right?"

"You know I do..." I trail off.

"Better than that marshmallow in there?" He nods toward the bathroom.

"Yes," I sigh.

"Better than any of the other guys you know?" He was so calm, as if he already new my answer.

I nod, "But not like that, Jake."

"That's ok, as long as you like me best. I'm prepared to be annoyingly persistent.

"I-I can't change, Jake." I say trying to keep my voice normal.

"It's because of him, isn't it?"

It's sweet how he knows not to say his name, but I cringe anyway.

"It's ok, you don't have to talk about it. But I'm not going to stop hanging around. I'm not giving up. I have plenty of time."

"Don't waste it on me, Jake." I say. Even though I wanted him to stick around, as long as he would accept that I'm damaged.

"It's what I want...as long as you still like hanging out."

"How could I not like being with you?" Honesty was spilling out of me for some reason.

Jacob's smile lit up his face, "I can live with that."

"Just," I hesitate, "don't expect more." I warn him.

...

Jake drops Mike off first and then heads towards Charlie's house. I glance down at our entwined hands.

"Does it really bother you that much?" Jake asks squeezing my hand gently.

"No, it's just...I think it means more to you, and I don't want to hurt you, Jacob." I admit.

"I'm fine, Bells, like I said, I have plenty of time," he gives me his most brilliant Jacob smile as he pulled into my drive-way.

I smile back, and then notice the sheen of sweat on his forehead. "Jake, are you feeling ok?"

"Um, not the greatest. it just hit me."

"Are you going to be ok driving? I could take you back to the Rez if you need me to." I offer.

"No, no, I'll be ok. But I should probably go on now."

"Ok, Jacob, just be careful." I say as I climb out of the Rabbit.

"Bye, Bells."

...

I lay in bed that night waiting for sleep to take over, worrying about Jake falling ill and dreading the dreams. I let my mind wonder to Romeo and Juliet.

What if Romeo had changed his mind and ran off without marrying Juliet? I thought I knew how Juliet would feel. She wouldn't be able to go back to her old life, she wouldn't be able to move on, every time she would close her eyes she would see Romeo's face. Maybe she would have married Paris to please her parents and keep the peace. The story didn't say much about Paris, he was just a threat. But what if there were more to Paris? What if he was Juliet's best friend? Maybe he really understood her and made her feel human again. Maybe he was patient and kind and took care of Juliet. What if Juliet couldn't survive without him? Maybe, Paris really loved Juliet and wanted her to be happy.

Maybe, possibly, Juliet loved Paris? Not like Romeo, nothing like that. But a healthier love. Enough that she wanted him to be happy, too? If Romeo was really gone and never coming back, maybe Juliet should accept Paris' offer and settle into a more normal life. Maybe that's as close to happiness as she could get.

As I begin to drift off to sleep the images of Juliet and Paris in my head shift into the possibility of me and Jacob. And for the first time in a long time, my dreams aren't so bad.