Okay, so this is the second chapter uploaded for this week. It seems I have been in the writing mood after missing 3 weeks. If there are any suggestions for this chapter please review and let me know about any changes I can make to improve it. The ending may seem a little melodramatic (okay, well, very overdramatic) but I wanted to capture how Bella feels when she thinks about Edward and what he did to her when he left. Hopefully I've managed to get that through, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Happy reading, leeleerose xx

Again I do not own the characters. They are Steph Meyer's creation. I only make up the story line

CATCH ME WHEN I FALL

We ate overly crispy bacon and hard yolked eggs for breakfast that morning. Jake didn't mind at all, although I suspected that he would have eaten even Charlie's cooking when he was hungry.

Halfway through our meal I decided to ask him about last night.

"Jake?"

"Yea?"

"Before I start, I just want you to know that I woke up this morning as the happiest girl alive..."

"As did I, but since you have already taken the role of the happiest girl, I will just have to settle for the happiest guy" Jake smiled sweetly. I smiled back before continuing.

"Well, I noticed a couple of things that I was extremely curious about, but I just couldn't figure them out"

"And these things concern me, right?" Jake's eyes locked with mine.

"Yes" I answered truthfully. There was an awkward pause. I wasn't sure how to proceed. Would he think it rude of me to ask these questions? After all, he had saved me last night, yet again. Maybe it didn't matter. But soon enough I found that Jake had solved this dilemma for me.

"Just ask me Bella. Whatever it is you want to know, I will answer as truthfully as I can."

Wow. How well this boy knew me.

"Okay..."

I looked down at the over-cooked egg still sitting on my plate, slightly embarrassed by what I was about to say.

"Well, the first was that you were not wearing a shirt"

"Okay"

"Huh?" I looked up. Surely that was not all he was going to say.

"Okay"

"Is that all your answer is? Okay?"

"Well, what do you want to know about me not wearing a shirt? I can make a mental note to bring one along if you wish. I mean, if it makes you feel uncomfortable..." He trailed off. My head snapped up.

"No, No." I was surprised at how quickly I replied to this offer. I could see the corners of Jake's mouth pull up in a small smile. "It's not that I feel uncomfortable or anything. It doesn't bother me, really. But I was just wondering why that was. You do realise that Charlie could have come in at any point during the night? And if he had found you, shirtless, in my bed...like we were..." I felt my cheeks flush red and dropped my head yet again. "It would not have gone down well at all" I mumbled quickly to finish.

I heard the gentle scraping of Jake's chair. A few moments later he knelt down next to me. His hand reached out and with one finger under my chin he gently raised my face so it was level with his.

His hand rested on the side of my face, his thumb drew idle lines across my cheekbone. After a few moments, he said quietly "My dear Bella, do you realise how much I've missed you? Your smile" He touched the corner of my mouth with his thumb "Your eyes" His gaze became fixed with mine. I could feel myself reddening again, yet I couldn't find the will to look away. "And your blush" He smiled as I turned even redder as he ran his thumb smoothly across my cheek. "You are so beautiful, Bella, so very beautiful. I love you. I have always loved you" My heart stuttered slightly. I was blown away by those few simple words. Jacob loved me. After confessing that I too loved him last night this was the only thing I wanted to hear. Slowly but surely my heart began to beat rhythmically again. Jacob continued "Your dad already knows how I feel about you"

"Really?" I asked, perplexed, my heart still floating like a feather "Charlie knows?"

"Yes, that's why I wasn't worried about him walking in to find me in bed with you, shirtless."

"So, you just weren't wearing one to begin with?"

"No, I wasn't. In case you haven't noticed I have a relatively high body temperature. Therefore I rarely need clothes for warmth"

"Yeah, I've noticed" I smiled slyly and placed my hand upon his chest, just above his heart. I could feel it beating evenly, slow and calming. "So is that how you got inside as well? Did Charlie let you in?"

Now it was Jakes turn to blush

"Actually, no"

I looked at him with curiosity. "But then, how...?"

"Now, Bella, don't be mad, but after our little...disagreement...the other day, I felt horrible. I had to come and see if you were okay. The others didn't want me to come. They said it was too dangerous"

My stomach dropped. Too dangerous. The words echoed in my head. But this means that they know about Laurent. But of course, if Sam's group really was a cult for vampire haters, and they had discovered the well-hidden secret of the Cull....the vampire family, then surely they would know about the presence of Laurent. And Victoria I reminded myself.

And of course they would think it dangerous, with two vampires lurking around Forks anywhere was dangerous. Especially anywhere near me I thought. I shivered inwardly. Luckily Jacob didn't seem to notice. He continued as if nothing had happened.

"But I needed to come and see you, so I ran away and snuck in through your window. When I saw you lying there, in so much pain, I knew I couldn't leave. They will have probably figured out where I am by now. I was supposed to have been home again before anyone could notice that I had left, but obviously things turned out differently than I had initially planned."

"I'm sorry if I got you into trouble. I didn't mean to" I whispered

Jacob smirked "Hey Bells, I'm not complaining. I'm glad we worked everything out last night."

"So am I. But about what you said before, Charlie knew that you loved me that whole time?"

"Yes Bella, he knew. He and everyone else knew for a long time. Everyone, except you."

"No, Jake. That's not quite true. I did know. Well, kind of."

I watched as Jake's brow furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean Bella?"

"I knew. I knew since that day we walked along the beach at La Push. But Jake, you need to know that I couldn't face my feelings. Not then." Jake nodded silently, showing that he remembered. He sat quietly, waiting for more. I wouldn't be able to do it. I couldn't explain why, but I knew I had to try. Jacob was here, to catch me if I should fall. I took a deep breath before continuing.

"I knew how you felt, but I could never face the truth. I couldn't feel for you because I was blinded by emotions too strong to see past. For a long time I was absorbed in...him. He was everything Jake, you have to understand that. But when he left I was so empty. He left a hole. It hurt Jake, more than you know. And even now, talking about him pulls at the edges of the gap. When I push myself too far it reopens, and the pain takes over, just like last night." I saw Jake shudder as he remembered. "It's at times like these that I need you Jake. Right now I'm treading in dangerous waters. Will you catch me when I fall?"

"Of course Bells, I'd do anything for you. I just want you to be okay. But if you don't want to talk about it I can wait until you're ready" He was looking worried, scared for my sanity, no doubt. I shook my head slowly.

"I don't think I will ever be ready. I have to try to overcome my own pain Jake, but I can't do it alone" A tear escaped from the corner of my eye. Jake caught it and wiped it away with the hand that was still cupped around the side of my face. "Thank you" He nodded, his eyes filled with sadness.

"When I met you, you mended me Jake. You put me back together. You saved me enough for me to be able to feel for you as I do now. I love you Jake, and never again will I feel the pain that I received from Ed...." Suddenly the hole reopened. I felt the edges tear apart as I pushed myself too far. My stomach curled in upon itself. I fell forwards, my self-control lapsing. Warm arms broke my fall. I tried again."...Edwa..." The pain was spreading through my chest. I whimpered as it seared my heart. The warm arms wrapped tightly around me, keeping me sane. I had to try again, for Jacob. "...Edward..." I gasped. A cold hand penetrated my skin, plunging in and stealing my soul. A flash of a memory, a nightmare. Then everything went black.