The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25 dot com

Prompt: # 3
Pen Name: Purelyamuse
Pairing/Character(s): Bella/Jacob
Rating: K
Word Count: 498

Photo prompts can be found here:
thetwilight25 dot com/round-eight/prompts

A/N: AU New Moon. Beta: Lyricalkris

With the window down, my hair dries quickly. My truck jerks and groans as I change gears, my speed picking up on the highway. Beside me, my phone blares an obnoxious tune.

Jake.

"I'm on the road. I told you I will call once I get there."

"I know. I'm not checking up on you," Jake says with a laugh. "Just wanted say I had fun. I always do when you're home for the summer."

Yeah, I do, too, I think but don't say.

"I know you said Thanksgiving, but any chance you'll be home before that?" His tone is hopeful, which is nice. He'd lost his desperation for me years ago. I think he realized we might just be better as friends after all.

And we are. At least we were.

Until last night.

I remember the heat of the bonfire warm against my cheeks. Food and friends surrounded us as the waves crashed onto the beach. I chatted with Emily about how school was going, but then Jake interrupted and sucked me into a game of Frisbee while Quil and Embry laughed at my skills.

We ended the evening propped up against some driftwood, our bare feet playing in the sand, side by side.

"What are you gonna do when you're done with school?"

"Um, get a job," I joked, but I knew what he was asking: Will you stay in Forks? Will I ever see you again once you're out in the big world? The truth was, I didn't know. But sitting beside Jacob, his hand wrapped around mine, I didn't want to be an adult. But more importantly, I didn't want to leave him anymore.

He knocked my shoulder and grinned, but it died down quickly and was replaced with a thoughtful expression. His eyes seemed forlorn. "I'm really gonna miss you, Bells."

I shrugged, nonchalant, but I was feeling it, too—this longing for his company already. I still had a year of college left, which meant, I had a year of visits home, too.

"You gonna email me?"

"Yes, definitely. Because you're so good at responding."

"You know I type like a chicken with its beak."

I laughed raucously, and he mimed pecking a keyboard with his nose. Our chuckling died down, and we stared, smiling softly, peacefully.

"Just—don't—don't forget me, okay?"

"Never," I said, and I meant it.

He settled down beside me, resting his head on my shoulder, smelling of campfire. I inhaled, closed my eyes.

I'm in love with Jake, I thought.

The memory fades away, but the feeling hits me again in the present. It's so hard and fast, I blurt, "I gotta go," hanging up on Jake.

I slam on the brakes, my truck skidding. I put it in park, leaving the engine running. I step out, spinning, no clue what I'll do with this information. I lie down in the middle of the road, waiting for the courage I need to live my life.