A/N I own nothing...do we really have to put that every time? okay but I don't...I do have Jacob locked in my closet though...FYI.

Here's the nextie chapter...der...thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing. self conscious writers love reviews...so do egomaniacs lol.

thanks again to Neutron Phantom for being awesomely awesome and asking for beta'ing...got me writing faster lol xxoo

Table for Two

Last time:

I had a new lease on life. I was going to live every day like I was dying. And not just for me, for my dad too. It's what he wanted, and it's what my mom would have wanted. I clanked through the door and threw my bag down the hall. I heard the TV on and video games blasting.

"Hey man, what's—" I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Bella? What are you doing here?"

.

Chapter 4

"Bella, what are you doing here?" I repeated, still thoroughly confused as to why Bella would be in my living room at 10 PM on a Thursday night.

"Hey Jake, I didn't think you'd be back until tomorrow. How'd everything go?" Seth shot up with a stupid grin on his face, oblivious to the fact that I was really confused. Sure, it was nothing for him to have my…to have Bella over, it happened all the time.

"Uh, um, yeah," I said, not moving my eyes from Bella, who was still sitting on the futon playing with a video game controller like it was the most interesting thing in the world, "things were good. I can fill you in later." Then I shot him a look that said I didn't want to talk about it in front of Bella.

"Sure, sure," he nodded, and sat back down to resume his game.

"So…" I drew out, waiting for someone to tell me what the hell was going on. "What's up Bella?"

She snapped her head up, and that crimson color flooded her face as she smiled at me. I gave her a smirk back and moved to sit on the futon between the two of them. When I sat down my hand accidently brushed up against Bella's arm and I felt that connection—that tingle, and by the small gasp that escaped her lips I could tell she felt it too.

I leaned back against the couch but didn't take my eyes off her. "What did you say you were doing here?"

"I was leaving the club the same time Seth was, so I offered him a ride so he didn't have to wait for the bus," she said matter-of-factly, looking up at me with her big doe eyes. "And then," she laughed and leaned around me to look at Seth, "he had the nerve to doubt my skills at Super Mario Brothers."

"Yeah man, she kicked my ass!" Seth laughed, pointing to the screen where the Wii was sitting on pause.

"Never doubt my skills," she said before laughing, setting the controller down. "Age has its benefits, I've been playing this game since the first Nintendo came out." She leaned against me, laughing at her own joke, but quickly pulled away again when she realized what she was doing. I smiled down at her big and goofy. I wish she'd let herself relax more often, it was nice to see her so unguarded.

"Sorry," she said meekly, looking everywhere but at me.

I leaned down so that my lips were against her ear and replied, "No problem." Then I pulled back to see Seth staring at us. I know I told Seth—hell, I told myself that I would be Bella's friend and only her friend, but I couldn't help but flirt with her when she was around. And it wasn't some sort of guy testosterone thing; it was as natural as breathing for me to act like this with her.

"Well, I guess I should get going." Bella stood from the couch. "Seth, thanks for the game, it was fun. I guess I'll see you both at work tomorrow night." Seth and I both stood up, being the gentlemen that we were raised to be and Seth grabbed her coat for her.

"You can stay, don't let me run you off," I half-joked, wondering why she didn't want to stick around now that I was home. I wanted her to stay, to get to know her outside of work; I wanted to see her let her guard down.

"Naw, I shouldn't have stayed this long, I have to get home to…I've got some things to do." And secretive Bella was back. I frowned involuntarily, but not because she was leaving. I was pouting, but only because I didn't like this side of Bella. I wanted to know everything about her, the good and the bad. I realize my hypocritical thoughts here; I wasn't exactly jumping at the chance to tell Bella about the "poor Jake" parts of my life, just like she wasn't telling me hers.

"Well, if you're going to pout I'll give you a rain check and come back some time to school your ass at Mario too."

"Sister please," I goaded back. "You may have been playing longer than me, but my skills are legendary." I puffed my chest out as I opened the apartment door for her. She turned to wave goodbye to Seth and he nodded then looked at me expectantly while I help up one finger to him. As she walked out the door I followed closely just to have her turn and slam into me.

"Umph," came out of her mouth when she slammed into me and I reached out to grab her as she fell backward slightly. My arm lingered around her small waist longer than necessary, feeling the warmth of her body so close. She cleared her throat and it was my turn to blush as I released her.

"I was just going to say goodbye." She looked up at me and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I'm walking you to your car."

"Jacob, you don't have to…."

"Just walk, woman," I joked and twirled my hand in a circle motion to get her to turn around and start walking. Bella playfully scowled at me but turned and started down the hallway of my apartment complex to the stairs.

We walked across the complex's parking lot toward her beat up old truck. I had my hands shoved in my pockets and she was clinging to her purse. It was a comfortably awkward silence for us, if that makes sense. It was a thing with us, to be completely comfortable with each other one minute and searching for conversation the next.

"So, work went well this week?" I asked, turning slightly toward her, hands still stuffed in my jeans.

"Yeah, nothing exciting. You must have had a nice time though, Seth said you went home to see your dad?" I wondered if she had been asking about me or if Chatty Cathy upstairs had just volunteered the information.

"Yeah," I nodded, "it was good to see him. He's getting old though you know. Don't think I really realized it when I got to see him every day."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Bella answered, reaching for her door handle at the same time I did, then she rolled her eyes. "Are you always so gentlemanly Jacob Black? I don't think I've met many guys my age with as many manners."

I laughed loudly as she climbed inside. "I thought I told you not to focus on age so much Bella, it takes the fun out of things." I shut her door for her and rested my forearms on the open window of her truck.

"Life isn't all fun, Mr. College Guy." She was joking with me, but the distance in her eyes told me she was thinking about something; she was always thinking about something.

"You know what though Bella?" She looked up and brought herself back into the conversation. "Being home with my dad, I learned that even though life isn't always fun, you shouldn't stop living it."

"Ha, you sound like my dad now, but you might be on to something," she said after a long pause.

"Yeah?" I asked and she laughed at me.

"Yeah!"

"Then you let me know when you're ready to live, and we'll go raise some hell."

"I may just have to take you up on that offer," she replied, for once stunning me in silence. Did I just ask her out? Did she just accept? Or was this just two friends making plans?

The roar of her engine awoke me from my reverie and I reached through the window and pulled her seatbelt out and wrapped it around her buckling her in. "Safety first though Bella, need to keep you in one piece."

She bit at her bottom lip and let out a small thank you while she thumbed at a loose piece of leather on her steering wheel. I grinned again as I pulled away from her truck and waved slightly before watching her pull out of the parking lot.

When I made my way back into the apartment I could hear the shower running, meaning Seth was finally cleaning up after work. I sat down on the couch and rolled my head back against the back of the couch. I closed my eyes and smiled. It had been a really tough three days at home, but it ended very well.

I knew my dad was sick and I knew it was getting worse, but there was nothing we could do about it. We would make sure he took his meds and watched his diet, but in the end it was beyond our control. What wasn't in our control was the fact that my dad was ready to see me live. He had given me the out I wanted six years ago, only this time I felt good about wanting it.

Then there was Bella, my enigma wrapped in a puzzle. I know she must feel a connection to me, but what I don't get is why she builds these walls around her. One thing is for sure though: if I'm going to make the most out of my one trip on Earth, I was going to show her how to live again too, for however long she'd let me.

"You look all constipated, so either Billy made you eat a lot of cheese or you're thinking about something," Seth snickered walking out of the bathroom in sweatpants and a towel on his head.

"Seriously you asshole, poop jokes? What are you, twelve?" I cracked one eye open to see him flipping me off and I smirked.

"Come on man," I felt him flop down next to me, "spill. You just spent three days taking care of your pops, who according to my mom is not doing so hot, but you come in here like someone gave you a new toy for Christmas."

"First of all, your mom should obey the hippo or herpie or whatever the fuck law it is that says nurses don't talk about their patients." He just shrugged. "Second, yeah it was pretty weird."

I spent the next half hour spilling everything from what the docs said to my dad getting worse. We talked about the conversation my dad and I had about me not feeling guilty about living my life for once. Seth was a pretty cool kid; we were almost like brothers now and I liked that.

"Thanks for listening man," I finally said worn out from a long three days and tired of being all emo over shit.

"No prob." He looked around shifty-eyed before turning back to me, "Should we like hug or some shit?"

"Very funny douche bag," I said, lifting my hands to block any advance he might have thought about trying, "you stay the fuck on your end of the couch." We both had a good laugh and then called it a night.

Before I shut my door I shouted out, "Hey, you never did tell me what makes you and Bella so chummy chummy. It's good to see though."

"Yeah, well, don't be jealous just because your girlfriend likes me more than you," he quipped back before shutting his door. I shook my head and chuckled to myself.

~~**~~

Friday nights at the club meant hell on Earth for the wait staff. People would come out early for early bird—or old bird, as Seth called them—specials. People would come out early because they had some show to go to or some paintings to see or whatever else rich people did on Friday nights. And people would come in late, having done said shows or openings or hob knobbing and want to eat. Basically we stayed busy from open to close.

I was working the men's grill again, but this time I was with Eric, Seth having gotten stuck in the main dining room. Eric was a nice guy, a few years older than me and about to start his last year in college. He talked too much, but I got to hear a lot of gossip about the members of the club and the employees here.

I found out that he was dating Angela who was the bartender and was just about the only person besides Seth that Bella would talk to. I tried to play off nonchalantly but every time Bella's name was brought up I perked up a little bit more. I swear, if he wasn't so busy talking he would have noticed.

I also found out that all of the girls, aside from Angela and Bella (he made a point to mention that), who worked with us, whether they were single or not were vying for attention from me. Apparently I don't do well with the obvious either. I mean, none of them ever really talked to me. But I listened to Eric go on and on and secretly wished that the one girl not on his list would notice me too.

"But Jessica, man, you gotta watch out for her. She's a vulture," Eric said and I quickly tried to recall what he'd been saying. Jessica, my age, big hair, fake nails, she looked like large bird of prey.

"Yeah, thanks for the heads up on her, definitely going to stay away. So they all seem to hang out together, I mean outside of work too, except Bella? That's weird." Yeah I was hedging, can you blame a guy? I mean my own best friend was giving me nothing!

"Yeah, Bella… she and Jessica don't really get along." He looked around quickly like he was waiting for someone to catch him so I involuntarily leaned in closer as we sat on the edge of the bar. "One night, after dinner, Jessica sort of caught Bella and Dr. Cullen together." Eric stopped talking and just looked at me waiting for me to comprehend.

"Un uh, Bella hates Dr. Cullen," I defended, feeling slightly agitated at his assumptions.

"Well, you know that and I know that, but Jessica didn't care. She thought she walked in on something because it's no secret how he goes after her. Well… Jessica called Bella a gold digging old hag and Bella called Jessica a childish bitch, yada yada. And then, that's when Jessica dumped a drink from the bar on Bella and Mike and Seth intervened. "

I sat there, stunned for a few minutes while Eric went on to tend to the bloated whales sitting around the grill. I laughed at the thought of quiet Bella giving anyone a piece of her mind, but I knew the fire was in her. I was angry again at the good doctor for whatever it was he was doing to Bella that made people jump to conclusions and I hated Jessica for being such a…a…drama llama.

Eric came back over to the bar. "It's all good now though. They avoid each other like the plague; Bella keeps to herself hiding out in the break room and Jessica, well, I guess she really hasn't changed. Though she wants you and the fact that you hide out with Bella is really going to start pissing her off." He laughed at himself and turned to talk to Angela who was pouring his drinks.

~~**~~

"Is this seat taken?" I asked, walking over to our table to find a very worn out looking Bella. She smiled up at me and slid her legs off the chair across from her and pushed it out with her foot.

"Tough night?"

"You have no idea," she said, rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands. "Must be nice to sit in guy heaven back there instead of out here busting your ass with the rest of us."

"Hey, I'll have you know that those guys can eat and drink their weight, it's not all fun and games. Here," I said motioning toward her feet, "put them back up here," I patted my thigh.

"I'm fine Jacob, I'm not going to put my stinky work feet on you." She laughed and shook her head so I reached down and grabbed them myself.

"There, see, no problem. But I'm not rubbing them, after all, they do stink." I plugged my nose just to have her shove one of her feet into my side. We sat there for a while, folding napkins for the next day and chatting about what went on that night.

"Hey Bella," I stopped what I was doing and looked up at her. "Lets go do something."

"Now?!" she asked like I was crazy.

"No, doof, like Sunday after brunch or Monday since we both have Monday off. Lets go do something. I'm sick of just going from work to home and home to work."

"Jacob, I don't know…" She had stopped what she was doing and was now picking at the chipping table top, a habit I noticed she does when she's nervous.

"Bella, we're friends right?" She nodded her head. "Okay, well friends hang out, outside of work."

"Jacob, I just don't want you to think… I do I really like you, Jacob but I don't have friends, really." She shrugged dismissively.

"You have Seth and Angela right? Well there's always room for one more. And I mean it Bella, just friends, just let me get to know you." I started folding napkins again, worried that I pushed too far too fast. Minutes passed and she hadn't said anything.

"Alright," she said suddenly, and I snapped my head up.

"Alright?"

"Yeah, alright, lets go 'raise some hell'." She laughed as she threw my words from the night before back at me. I nodded and we continued our work in silence.

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