I want to say thank you again to my Beta Smmiskimen, she's the best. I would also like to thank all of you who reviewed my story. I published on Saturday and now it's monday and here is the next chapter! You guys motivated me!

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Jacob's POV

I pushed Billy up the driveway. The whole way down my stomach felt like there was a butterfly dying in there. Charlie opened the door before we even got to it.

"Come on boys, the game has already started!" Billy just rolled right in not needing anymore of an invitation.

I hesitated at the threshold. Well, Bella was with another guy… But the important part was that we were still friends. Better than nothing, I guess. It took me a second to clear my head before I stepped inside. A delicious smell wafted in from the kitchen. I missed home cooking. My sisters' culinary masterpieces consisted of pasta with Ragu and heating up frozen dinners. They hadn't inherited my mother's talent with food, that was really too bad.

I stood in the entrance of the kitchen and just watched her. Bella was chopping vegetables, stirring pots, and sprinkling salt or whatever on the food. She looked so graceful; Bella graceful? That thought made me laugh. My laughter startled her and she dropped the spoon she had been holding as she looked up at me.

"Jacob!" Bella exclaimed as I took a few steps toward her and she met me half way. Her face was plastered with an enormous smile. "Don't scare me!"

"Sorry Bells. That was not my intention," I said. Her smile lit up her face and my heart. "Do you need any help with anything?"

"Go watch the game with Billy and Charlie. I can manage; this isn't my first time in the kitchen you know?" She said as she tried to push me towards the living room.

"Whoa! Bella let me help. Plus someone has to keep an eye on you, even if it is just to call 911. Your record is not spotless when it comes to accidents." I said and I laughed at the blush that crept up from her cheeks.

"Fine. You can start the salad." She said as she directed me over to the lettuce. Little did she know that I found her more interesting than any football game. I would grasp at any excuse to stay close to her, even if it was just to watch her cook dinner. I guess she felt me staring at her.

"Is something wrong?" she asked and I just smiled at her, well she did have sauce on her face.

"Yeah, you sorta have something on your face," I said.

"Really?" she asked as blush began to creep into her face again. "Where?" She wiped her face but managed to only smudge the sauce even more.

"Bella you've made it worse! Come here I'll get it off." I said as I wet my finger and cleaned her face. She pushed off of me. I was confused for a split second. Wasn't that was friends were supposed to do? Help each other out?

"Ewwww! Jacob! I didn't want to catch your cooties!" she squealed as her eyes danced with mirth. I let go of the breath that I wasn't aware that I was holding.

"Well Miss Swan, you should be pleased to know that I had my cootie shots when I was five. So don't worry, I'm not contagious." I teased. I licked my thumb very pointedly and tried to rub it on her face again. She squealed and made a mad dash away from me.

"Is something the matter?" I turned to look at the entrance to the kitchen where the question had come from. Billy was looking at me with a knowing smile.

"No, Billy nothing is the matter. Did you and my dad need any more dip?" Bella asked. I could see the blush on Bella's face turn a dangerous shade of pink.

"No we're fine. Just need more beer," Billy said. I walked over to the refrigerator and tossed the old man two beers.

"Billy, can you tell my Dad that dinner will be ready in ten minutes?" Bella asked as she returned to the stove.

"Sure thing kid," Billy said. He gave me a wink as he turned back into the living room. That old man had the worst timing ever. It was unnerving how much he knew about me liking Bella. I had never mentioned it to him, ever. As a matter of fact we never talked "girls" at all.

Ten minutes later we were all at the table eating dinner.

"Wow Bella I can't remember the last time I ate something so good!" I said as I looked at her. She blushed at my compliment.

"Yes Bella it is a rare treat that we actually get to eat something that is well… for lack of a better word, edible. We are not exactly gifted in the kitchen department." Billy said as he raised his beer and toasted her.

Charlie interrupted and said what was probably the best idea I had ever heard. "Well if that's the case then I propose that we do this on a regular basis. That's of course if Bella agrees." She just shook her head in agreement. Not being able to speak due to the big bite she had just taken. "Well it's settled then. How does every Monday night sound? Food and football?" Charlie proposed. I just couldn't be happier! I had a set day to see Bella!

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Bella's POV

Monday night football dinner with the Blacks? That sounded wonderful. In my mind I began to plan the menu for the coming weeks. I wouldn't make anything too fancy, since the guys would just want to watch football, drink beer, and eat. This was going to be great! I suddenly realized how much I had missed Jacob. We had been friends when we were kids. Our friendship was so effortless during those summers; it obviously hadn't changed one smidgeon. I looked up at him and he gave me a warm smile. I couldn't help but smile back.

When dinner was done and the leftovers packed away for the Blacks to take home. I had insisted they take the leftovers with them, to my understanding they were living off of Hotpockets and instant noodles. I could always cook for Charlie tomorrow; HE had a decent meal on a regular basis. I got up to wash the dishes as the guys went to the living room to watch the rest of the game. I felt someone standing next to me. I looked over and there was Jacob.

"You're not going to watch the rest of the game with them?" I asked. He just shook his head and motioned for me to hand him the soapy dishes. While I washed, he rinsed. I turned and looked at him. When did he get to be past eye level? He was getting tall.

"How tall are you?" I asked.

"Huh? Oh! 6'2" I think. Why? Jealous that I'm tall and you're a munchkin?" he teased. I just laughed.

He began to dry the dishes and handing them to me so that I could put them way. I looked at him again. When did he grow up? I remember when I had just moved here and I saw him in La Push he was still just a little kid. Now "kid" wasn't a word I would use to describe him. Man, well young man was more like it but no longer a kid.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" I asked. I shut my mouth. That was entirely none of my business.

"Girlfriend? No. I don't have one. I haven't found an available girl worth going out with," he answered. He looked at me, hard and I looked away.

"Oh. I would've thought you would have one. You're quite the catch," I replied. After a second I added, "If I was your age and single I think I would go out on a date with you." I looked up at him he just smiled. I was putting away the pots then I heard him speak in a low voice.

"So if you were single you'd go out on a date with me?" he looked into my eyes when he asked.

"AND if I was younger," I responded. He wasn't a kid anymore but he was just… younger. Was it just me or did his smile just falter a bit?

A while later Jacob and Billy left. I said goodnight to Charlie and went upstairs to get ready for bed. As I walked into my room I looked at the window. Edward hadn't come last night. I gathered my things and went to the bathroom. I looked at the window again. Would he come tonight? I went into the linen closet and got another blanket. Well if he didn't come I didn't want to be cold.

When I finally got in bed my thoughts began to run rampant. Yesterday at school he had kept me at a distance, like he was afraid of breaking me. Every time I would look at him he seemed deep in thought. He was being difficult. What had happened with Jasper was over. I was still in one piece and alive. Why can't he get over it? He was beginning to kinda freak me out. It was neither mine nor Jasper's fault, it was just an accident. I would try to speak to him again tomorrow and try to get some answers from him. That's what I was going to do! I needed answers to every single mood he had swung at me. I smiled to myself. Yes that is exactly what I'm going to do, take charge of this mess and not wait for him to sort this mess out.

I felt a whole lot better now that I had a plan. I looked outside my window at the moon. A full moon stared back at me. How I loved the Moon, it was always my companion at night. It reflected the sun's rays to us on this side of the planet that couldn't bask in those warm rays. If the Moon was a person it would be very considerate. How I missed the warmth of the sun's rays, I missed Phoenix. The sun, the sun…

Jacob had a sunny disposition; he had made me forget, for the time he was here, how nervous I was about Edward's moods. I definitely need to talk to Edward tomorrow. I had to.

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