I of course own no part of Twilight or any of Stephenie Meyer's wonderful characters...

Chapter 2

I stepped out of the bathroom and headed down the hall toward the kitchen. Billy was sitting in his chair watching what at a glance I thought to be a football game. He looked up at me and smiled warmly as I entered the room.

"'Morning Bella," he said fondly in spite of the fact that it was nearing 4:00, "I spoke with Charlie this morning, told him you kids played hard and you were sleeping in. And if you'd like, I also cleared it with him for you stay on out here tonight and head home tomorrow."

Hmmm… Wouldn't have seen that coming…

"Thanks Billy," I really was grateful, it wasn't a long drive back to Forks, but I didn't quite feel up to it and I especially didn't feel ready to face Charlie yet. "I'll probably take you up on that."

He smiled again and was then fully engrossed in the ballgame that had come back on.

I walked on through to their small kitchen and there was Jacob, he had two places set at the tiny table and was fumbling through the cabinets and mumbling beneath his breath. I leaned against the doorframe and silently watched him. He turned and dropped an open bag of Doritos onto the table and pulled one of the chairs out as he looked up and smiled, gesturing for me to come sit down.

He had bread, cold cuts, cheese, peanut butter, jelly, and a variety of condiments spread across the table. "I wasn't sure what you'd want," he offered, "and we don't exactly keep a fully stocked kitchen."

I slid into the chair that he offered and he sat down across from me. I watched him slapping bread, meat and cheese together until he had 5 or 6 sandwiches on his plate. He looked up and saw me just watching him and he slipped two pieces of bread on the plate in front of me.

"Eat something Bells," his dark eyes filling with concern.

I wasn't hungry, but I knew better than to argue. I took a piece of cheese and a piece of ham from the middle of the table and assembled a sandwich. He had finished two of his by the time I had mine together and he was reaching for the Doritos. I nibbled unenthusiastically at the sandwich and popped open the can of warm soda that he had sat next to my plate.

I watched him from the corner of my eye, as we ate in comfortable silence. His shaggy, black hair fell into his face every time he reached out for anything on the table. His dark eyes kept casting glances at me when he thought I wasn't looking.

I finished my sandwich and got up from the table, busying myself by putting away the things that Jacob had drug out. He swallowed his 6th sandwich and shoved a handful of chips into his mouth as he got up to help me tidy up.

I stood at the sink washing our plates when he came up from behind. I felt him there, just a couple of inches or so behind me, and I leaned back into him. He wrapped his strong arms around my waist and squeezed me tight against him. I found so much comfort in his warm, strong embrace.

I was so very grateful for Jacob, I really don't know how I would have survived these past few months without him, I turned to face him and immediately pulled back; the look in his eyes caught me off guard and said so much… I felt horribly guilty – and ashamed. Jacob was my best friend, and I would love him forever, but not the way his eyes told me that he loved me. I quickly looked down, and his look changed to one of hurt and then anger, as he processed my rejection.

He dropped his head and walked back to the small table. He picked up the chip bag and tossed it back into the pantry shutting the door just a little too hard. He sighed deeply and then with just a hint of chagrin in his voice he asked, "Wanna go for a walk down by the beach?" He reached his hand out for mine his dark eyes met mine pleadingly; the look on his face was that of a young child who had just been reprimanded.

I hated feeling this way; Jacob was my sun, the only time the awful pain in my chest was bearable was when he was near, he was the only one that had made me smile since… they left, he gave me the strength to keep going. Why did I keep finding myself hurting him? I felt like a horrible person, taking advantage of Jacob's kindness for my own selfish needs. Repeatedly causing him pain by constantly reminding him that I couldn't return his feelings for me…

"Jake…" I started, wondering if maybe I should just go ahead and drive back into Forks tonight.

"C'mon." He urged, stretching his outreached arm closer to me, "let's just go for a walk."

I stepped toward him and his large hand covered mine and he started towing me out of the house. I was overcome with self-loathing as I realized that I just couldn't give him up. Once outside he pulled me closer to him and slung his arm around my shoulder nonchalantly. I told myself that I should remove his arm, that by allowing him these small intimacies I was only setting him up for more pain. I raised my hand up to his, intending to gently slip his arm from my shoulder – but he caught my hand in his and kept it there, tightening his fingers around mine. "S'okay Bells," he muttered, as though he could read my mind.

We walked toward the beach, lost in our respective thoughts. He led us along the water's edge to a familiar piece of driftwood and sat down, pulling me down next to him. The comfortable, natural way that we sat at our spot and talked… about school, the motorcycles, his friends, and my friends – it reminded me of the way things used to be between us. I yearned for less complicated times.

I sat on my driftwood perch listening to the waves crashing against the nearby rocks and watching him through the veil of hair that fell down the sides of my face. He was just a foot or so away from me, close enough that I could still feel the warmth radiating off from him. He had a small stick in his hand; he was leaning over his knees doodling in the sand. His white T-shirt practically glowed in the moonlight, the darkness not hiding the muscles rippling beneath, his strong jaw… his deep dark eyes. It wasn't the first time I'd found myself thinking that he was beautiful.

He looked up at me then and smiled my smile. The wind was much colder now coming off the sea; and I shivered as a chill ran through me.

Jacob stood and pulled me to my feet. "I guess it is getting' a little cool," he realized, "let's head back to the house." We walked back slowly, his arm around my shoulders, his hand rubbing my arm trying to warm me with the friction.

Billy was nowhere to be seen, I assumed he had gone on to bed. We walked inside and I plopped down on the old couch.

Jacob reappeared with a blanket and he gently laid it across me. He sat beside me and grabbed the remote and started flipping through the channels. It didn't take long before I found his arm around my waist and myself nestling into his chest. I wasn't even aware of just how we moved into this position… It was just natural, safe, and warm.

My eyes suddenly felt so very heavy; it was all I could do to keep them open. His face was nuzzling me; I thought I felt him kissing my hair, the top of my head… On the very verge of unconsciousness I felt his hand gently graze my cheek, stroke my hair back, and glide down my neck… His head tilted down closer to me, his breath hot on my skin as he chanced the softest most fleeting kiss on my forehead. I heard him whisper, so softly to my ear… "Bella," he let out a heart-wrenching sigh, "God Bella, I love you."

The emotion is his feathery soft whisper was so evident, he sounded like he was hurting… so much. The thought of him hurting again because of me only further damaged my already busted heart.

I wanted to take his pain away, to comfort him, but sleep was the only thing that I had the strength for. "Jacob…" I muttered, but then I fell into a warm, peaceful sleep unlike any that I had experienced in a long time.