Chapter 4- Jacob

So, this was it; my one big chance, possibly my only chance.

Nessie was looking at me, a smile on her perfect, red lips, her bronze hair glinting in the sunlight. She blinded me. Words could not describe how she looked right now, her chocolaty-brown eyes now boring into mine, expecting me to come out with an answer when my brain was already being taken up by her dazzling beauty. I stared at her, my eyes being sucked into hers like some massive black hole; I was forgetting everything, like she was hypnotizing me. It was a long moment before she broke the awkward silence surrounding us.

'Jacob?' she said confused by my delayed answer. 'Shall I repeat?'

'No, no' I said. 'Um, why don't we take a walk along the beach?'

'Sure.' She said. She skipped on ahead of me, her white dress whipping out behind her as she ran towards the sea.

I ran to catch up with her. 'Hey, wait up Nessie.'

'Slow coach.' She joked, before running off again, giggling. I couldn't be sure if she was playing, or running away from me, disguising it as playing. She had been acting a little weird around me lately, which meant I couldn't understand her completely. So I decided not to run after her this time, letting her come back to me. About fifty metres down the beach she turned to look at me, her hair blowing in the breeze.

'C'mon,' Jake, she called, beckoning me with her hand.

I gave up waiting for her to come back to me and ran full pelt towards her. I was by her side in a few seconds.

'Wow that was fast, Jake, really fast.'

Huh, was I that eager to get to her?

'Should I take that as a compliment?'

'Most certainly.' She smiled.

We walked together in silence for a while, both of us taking in the scenery. My hand was twitching. Should I take hers or not? Before she started acting weirdly around me, I wouldn't have hesitated to take it. Now, especially with the shower episode this morning, I think it would've scared the living day lights out of her if I held it. For the life of me I couldn't understand what I had done.

Abruptly, Nessie stopped.

'Oh, Jake look at that,' she said, her finger pointing up at the sky.

I followed her gaze, eventually homing in on a magnificent, multi-coloured bird.

'Huh,' was my ingenious, enthusiastic response.

'Isn't it beautiful?'

'Er, yes… I suppose.' I couldn't quite express the right level of enthusiasm, not when I disagreed with her like that. How could she say that bird was beautiful? Hadn't she looked in the mirror lately? As I often found, I ended up expressing my thoughts aloud. 'But not as beautiful as you.' I muttered under my breath.

From a couple of paces in front of me, Nessie whirled, coming to a standstill, confusion the dominant facial expression.

'Excuse me Jacob Black, what did you just say?'

Realising my mistake, I made a desperate, but pitiful attempt to cover my tracks- no pun intended.

'I said it was more beautiful for you… than it was for me.'

Her eyes creased up, sensing some untruthfulness in my response. But she let it go, frowning at me before continuing to walk.

It seemed like we had been walking for ages. We just kept to the coastal path. I couldn't brave the jungle, not just yet.

We continued on for another immeasurable amount of time, the odd conversation cropping up here and there. It was unusual for us to be so quiet. Maybe we both had our minds preoccupied. I wondered what hers was preoccupied with. We stopped and started, standing to admire the view on occasions, or stopping to dip our hot feet in the sea. We clambered over rocks, climbed crags, even paddled, and now I could see miles of sandy beach ahead of us. However, barricading our way to the sandy beach was a small collection of rocks. I stopped, pausing to look at the many rocks that were sticking out the sand. It was quiet now; we had passed the jungle with its weird animal noises and bird noises, passed the craggy part of the island where disjointed, harsh shapes were the main features of the landscape, causing the sea to crash against the rocks like thunder. Now, it was quiet. Nothing but the sea lapping the shore, the wind whispering in Nessie's hair and… a distant grumble.

'Aw, crap. My stomach.' I moaned, embarrassed. I knew Nessie would have heard it. She just laughed.

'Ha ha, Jacob's hungry. Why don't we sit here for a while, on these rocks? It's a lovely spot.'

'Yeah, ok.' Was all I said before perching myself on a flat rock and eagerly shaking out the content of the rucksack beside me. Nessie sat on my other side. I passed her the sandwich I had made for her this morning before admiring my stash of food that, all of a sudden, I had no interest in eating. Maybe it was the warmth coming off Nessie's body that did it, gave me butterflies. Because, in the moment where she sat down beside me, the sudden realisation that I was going to tell her how I felt about her, hit me. I picked up my own sandwich and took a bite. Nessie took a bite out of hers. She made a face like the sandwich was repulsive.

'Ness, what's wrong? Did I make it wrong?'

She swallowed the piece of sandwich, forcing it down. 'Nothing.' She replied, smiling at me once she had removed the disgusted look off her face.

'You're not too keen on that are you?'

'Sorry, Jake,' her smile turning into a frown. 'Its not that you're a bad cook or anything. It's just bread, I can't stand the stuff.'

'Ah. Why didn't you tell me this morning?'

'Because I didn't know that I didn't like bread. Sorry.'

'Aw, Ness, you don't need to say sorry. I know it's hard for you to have human food in your diet. Maybe we should go hunting this evening? Would you like that?'

'Sure. Thanks Jake, you're the best.' She then moved in to hug me. It wasn't one of those fleeting hugs that young girls do. It was a warm, tender hug. This wasn't like her. Not at all. She then pulled back, looking at me like she was expressing the feelings of that hug. It was then that it hit me.

Was I so sure that only I had feelings for her? Had I considered that she would be a woman in a little less than month? Was there the slightest possibility that she felt the same way about me as I did about her? The thought of it made me want to punch the air. I kept vigilant though, keeping myself composed. I tried to work out how to begin.

'Nessie, I- I need to talk to you about something.'

'Jake, you can tell me anything.'

'I know, I know. It's just… a little awkward.'

She just sat there facing me, a calm expression on her face. I began.

'Nessie, you know from the first moment I set eyes on you, I have loved you. At first, I loved you like a sister; I cared for you as any big brother would. Then, as you started maturing, recognising your own feelings, we became friends. I loved you like a friend. Now… I-I'm confused. I don't know what I'm feeling. Because all I know is that I love you and that the love I feel for you is constantly changing.' I paused, momentarily taking the composed expression on Nessie's face, and building up the confidence to say what I really needed to say. 'Ness… I don't think I love you any more… I think I'm in love with you.' I held my head down, avoiding eye contact, feeling embarrassed'.

'Sorry.'

It was silent for a moment.

'Jake?' she said, her voice soft as a whisper. 'Jake, is this true?'

I realised I had been holding my breath as I answered her.

'Yes.' I breathed out.

'Jacob Black, look at me.' Nessie said, her voice soft.

I didn't obey her, keeping my eyes down. Suddenly, one soft finger was on my chin, coaxing it up. My eyes were still down though, trying to avoid hers. She dropped her head, trying to make eye contact, succeeding in making me look into her deep chocolate eyes; they were soft, but full of questions.

I thought she would start firing questions at me, at least, maybe run, at the most. But nothing, nothing at all could prepare me for what was coming next.

She moved her finger from my chin, her whole hand now caressing my cheek. Then, with deliberate slowness, she moved her face towards mine. I could feel her sweet breath on my face as she very slowly, parted her lips. Her lips shaped themselves around mine for the briefest of moments, all too soon, pulling away, exhaling shakily. Where my lips on fire? They certainly felt like it. Was I blushing? Oh God, I hoped I wasn't blushing. What was she thinking? I sat back, staring at her.

She was nervous. I knew her well; she was going to say something. I sat back, properly nervous for the first time in my life, and waited for her response to come.

However, as she began to speak, I recognised typical vampire personality coming through. I really had to concentrate to catch everything she said. Hell, it annoyed me when Edward and Bella spoke to me like that. But, for Nessie, I tried to remain calm, absorbing everything

'Jake, for a while now I've had these feelings for you and, it's scared me Jake, it really has. I didn't know what was happening. It was like some foreign body had come to take over my mind. Then, last night, these feelings rocketed. I mean, just looking at you made me tingle, I was nervous to even look at you. You must have thought something wrong with me.' She paused shaking her head, smiling. 'I talked to my mother last night, I wanted an answer to my feelings and mums know everything, right? Anyway, I explained to her everything that had happened recently, my changing feelings for you, how I was more aware of what I looked like around you. And, do you know what? She knew immediately what I was talking about. She knew I was in love with you Jacob, I just hadn't realised it yet. But most of all, Jake, what really has made me happier than when I found out the answer to my feelings, is that you feel the same way about me too; and that Jake, is the best gift you could ever give me- You.

She then took my hands, playing with them, whilst I remained frozen. Also for the very first time in my life, I was speechless. I just sat there, helpless, staring at the wind playing with her hair, and the sun glinting of it like ruby facets. Then the realisation hit me. I let out a gasp of air, realising I had been holding my breath. This perfect, rare creature was mine. Mine forever.

Instead of my hands remaining limp in hers, I clenched them, folding themselves around hers; they seemed small and dainty in my firm grasp. The sudden realisation that we loved each other sent a shock of warmth which radiated through my body. It was nothing like the warmth that possessed my body when I transformed, or even the warmth that I felt when I felt myself imprinting on Nessie, it was a warmth deep inside my heart, a warmth telling me I was wanted and loved; finally. I then let go of her hands, placing mine on either side of her face and leaned in.

As soon as our lips met for the second time, I found myself closing my eyes, drowning in the moment. This kiss was longer than the first, both of us aware of each others feelings, like we were connected. Her hands were then brushing through my hair, holding my face closer to hers before finding themselves around my neck. My hands, leaving her cheeks, ran down the entire length of her body before finding her waist. I then lifted her off the rock, walking to where the soft, sandy beach lay. I momentarily broke away from her, needing to breath. I then kissed her just once, before placing her on the sand, sitting beside her. She ran her hands through her hair, breathing out.

'Any good?' She said casually, after a few seconds. She turned to look towards me, grinning broadly. I couldn't help grinning back.

'Actually yes,' I said just as casually back. 'Very good, really.'

I chuckled.

'What?' She said, still smiling.

'Just the sudden change in situation that's all.'

'Mmm,'

'Wanna do that again?' That was an offer hard to refuse.

'I you want,' I responded, winking at her. I didn't want to express how much I wanted to do that again.

'Okay then,' she paused to grin slyly at me. 'But you have to catch me first.'

With that, she leapt up and sped across the beach, I thick spray of sand behind her as she ran, much, much faster than the average human. It was very good job then, that I wasn't the average human. I got up as well, taking my t-shirt and shorts off as I did so, before, with no apparent effort at all, changing into a werewolf. Boy, she had no chance now.

My muscles began clenching and unclenching as my heavy paws thudded across the sand. The blue of the sea and the golden sand were blurs as I chased towards the clear figure ahead of me. Renesmee.

Nessie's hair was just visible behind the sand that was being churned up behind her, as glinting red sparkles. I closed my eyes as I ran closer and closer towards her, using my senses to chase her rather than my eyes, as sand continued to be sprayed up in front of me. As her scent became more and more concentrated with how close I was catching up with her, I prepared to leap. I increased on the speed, building on the tension, then, with all the force I could muster, my back leg muscles locked, then released, springing me right into her, pushing her to into the sand. She began giggling almost immediately as I danced around her clumsily, licking her face.

'Jake, Jake, stop.' She laughed. She hugged my head to her chest, stroking the fur there. Her breath was coming quicker; she wasn't all vampire, thank goodness, so her breathing rate sped up when she ran.

I began to laugh too, though my laughter sounded much like sniggers in my wolf form. She wasn't even scared by my array of dagger, sharp teeth.

'Jacob, you do realise,' she said slightly breathless still, 'that you don't have any clothes to wear now. That was a bit silly wasn't it?'

It was a good job that I remembered to remove my clothes before I changed. I shook my head, nodding at a small pile of clothes about two hundred metres away.

'Ah,' was all she said, before smiling down at me,' good job you thought of that Jake.'

I nodded before getting up, plodding towards my clothes. Nessie got up with me, walking by my side. Once we got to my clothes, she picked them up, placing them carefully in my mouth so I could go and change.

She sat down whilst I trotted to the small section of rocks left of where Nessie sat. Once I was out of her view, I let go of the heat that kept me in wolf form, changing back to a human and hurriedly putting my clothes on. Before long, I was at Nessie's side. She had her knees drawn to her chest and her chin resting on them.

'This place is beautiful, don't you think?.. So many beautiful things happen here too.'

I didn't quite understand what she meant by that, I looked at her puzzlingly.

'Like love Jake. You and me, we've found each other at last,' she smiled, she had been doing that a lot this afternoon, 'My mum and dad, you could say their love blossomed here too.'

'And you were also created here too. You're beautiful.'

She turned to look at me. 'Thanks'

'Maybe we should rename this place as the Island of Lurve.'

'Maybe…' She laughed then, making me jump. 'Hey, Jake, you know you have your t-shirt the wrong way round,' breaking the awkward silence that formed.

'Ha ha, oops, so I have. I didn't feel embarrassed like I would have done this morning. So, without really thinking about it, I lifted my t-shirt off, so I could turn it the right way. I would have put it straight back on again if Nessie's eyes hadn't of bulged at the sight of my chest.

'You've seen it all before Ness,' I told her, a little smug, before putting it back on. We should take things slowly.

She rolled her eyes at my response, reminding me of Edward. Then I suddenly remembered.

'Aw crap, we should be getting back Nessie. Bella and Edward wanted us back before sunset.' I looked at the sky, the sun in the west. 'C'mon,' I took her hand, pulling her up, 'let's get going.'

We walked over to the rocks where our forgotten lunch remained, both us of us quickly stuffing the left overs back into the bag. I then took her hand again, swinging our arms lightly in the mood, as we began to walk back towards the house, back towards Bella and Edward. What would they think about the turn out of today's events? I just hoped, beyond hope, that Bella had warned Edward about Nessie and I today. The guy was one of my best friends; I had earned his friendship through the years that I had finally gotten to know him, but, in the situation of Edward being Nessie's father, I had to be careful. And boy, I wouldn't want to be on the end of one of his moods.