A/N Stephenie Meyer's owns all Twilight characters

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BPOV

I pushed the studio door open and looked around. Jake was no where to be found. I glanced at my watch, thinking I was early, but it was three. He should have been here.

"Hello?" I called out. I walked further into the studio, "Jake? It's Bella. Are you here?"

I stepped into the revolving door and spun it shut; it hissed like a snake and opened into the darkroom. There red lights were turned off, "Jacob, you in here?" I called into the darkness. Deafening silence answered me.

Back in the studio I sat down on the edge of a stool that was in the corner, outside thunder rumbled. I glanced at my watch; five minutes after three. I'd wait ten more minutes, and then I was leaving. At three ten Jake pushed the studio door open.

"Hi," I said with a wave. He looks like shit, I thought.

"Sorry I'm late," he grunted.

Nor did he sound good. "It's okay," I said meekly.

"I've got to get the film from yesterday developed. Do you still want to learn?" He turned to face me, his face a mask of hard, angry lines. His dark truculent eyes flashed. I swallowed hard, a giddy desire rising in my stomach, "Yes."

He stomped across the studio and disappeared into the darkroom. I waited a minute then followed. The door spun around me, the light disappeared and I was pitched into darkness again.

"Jake?" I called into the tenebrosity.*

"Stay where you are," he said in a voice that was rough as sandpaper.

"Okay."

"Take five steps forward. The table should be right in front you," he said in the gravelly voice.

I counted out five steps and reached into the darkness. My hands touched the wooden table top. "I found the table."

"Okay, now feel in front of you. There should be a roll of film, a plastic circular object and a developing tank."

I felt for each object as he said them and did the best I could as he walked me through the steps; from getting the film out of its metal holder to adding the chemicals.

"Does this have to be done in the dark?" I asked, setting the heavy bottle of chemicals on the table. I rubbed my swollen knee. Bumbling around in the dark was definitely not my idea of fun.

"No, but I like to do it in the dark. If you do it in the dark you can do it where ever, when ever."

I smirked; he made it sound like knowing how to develop film would one day save my life.

"And if you counted your steps you'd stop banding your knees."

"If you did this with the lights on I wouldn't be banging my knees," I grumbled.

Across the room, I heard water running, "Bring your tank over here," Jacob instructed. I had no idea where 'over here' was.

"Marco," I called out.

"Polo," Jacob answered. I walked toward the sound of his voice. Sloshing tank in one hand, the other stretched out in front of me, above crotch level this time.

"Marco," I called out again.

"Polo," Jake answered from right in front of me.

I reached out, searching for the sink. Instead of the cool metal of the sink, my fingers brushed cotton covered chest muscles. I yanked my hand back as a spark of electricity jolted me.

"Sorry," I said quietly.

"S'okay," he said softly. "Here, put your tank in the sink."

His fingers grasped my arm, then slid down slowly, grazing every nerve in my arm, and came to rest on my wrist. He guided my arm down, the tank hit the sink with a dull metallic bong. He stood beside me, our bodies touching. I was thankful for the darkness as I stood there greedily inhaling his cologne, grinning like an idiot. I remember to let go of the tank, and Jake let go of my wrist.

"Okay, now turn the water on."

I fumbled around in the dark, both hands outstretched, searching for the faucet. My hand hit something and it clattered noisily into the sink.

"Here," Jake said grabbing my arm again, "Come to the left a little."

He trailed his fingers down my arm and moved it to the left. I felt the cool metal and gripped the T shaped faucet handle and turned it.

"Thanks," I said and moved the tank under the running water.

"Okay, now they wash for ten minutes." Jake moved in the darkness, "Look Bella, about last night. I didn't mean to, I mean I know you have a boyfriend. Look I just didn't mean to kiss you. It was inappropriate and I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I wasn't exactly telling you to stop. It happened, whatever. It's done and over with now."

The darkroom gave me courage; I never would have had the guts to blow him off so casually if we'd been in the light. I like the darkroom, I thought to myself, it's like alcohol minus the hangover. Gives you the guts to do the things you'd never do sober."

The water shut off, "Okay, so after these are finished rinsing, they have to dry overnight. They'll be ready to print tomorrow. If you want to learn how to do that I'll teach you."

"That sounds like fun," I said; to myself I thought, anything I get to do with you in this darkroom sounds like fun, "But what about the painting?"

Jake sighed, "It looks horrible." He grabbed my hand, "Come on, I'll show you."

JPOV

I hadn't expected Bella to call this morning. Then again I hadn't exactly expected to survive the night either. Alcohol and the multitude of medication I was taking tended to not mix well. But I had accomplished my goal; the ghosts had gone and left me alone.

When the phone rang I expected it to be Becca; she normally called everyday when she was out of town to make sure I didn't go and off myself while she was away.

"Hello," I said in my-as-you-can-see-I'm-still-alive-Becca voice.

"Um hi. I was trying to reach Jacob Black," Bella said anxiously.

"This is him. What do you want?"

"This is Bella; Bella Swan. I was just calling to find out what time you wanted me to come in today. I left in such a rush, I forgot to ask." I wanted to laugh, she sounded like she was trying so hard to not let me hear how humiliating this call was for her to make.

I didn't say anything for a while; I stood in the kitchen trying to figure out if she was for real or not.

"Hello?" she said in a timid voice.

"You still want to come in?" I finally said.

"Yes. You hired me to sit for your painting and that's what I intend to do. I don't like doing things half-assed."

"Okay."

I was stunned, "Can you come at three?"

"Yes."

"Okay, so I guess I'll see you at three."

"See you then," she said and hung up.

After I hung up the phone I decided Bella was either glutton for punishment or had liked kissing me more than she let on. I hadn't planned on kissing her last night; I hadn't wanted to want her nor her to want me. But the attraction was unmistakable, there was a pull, like magnets, I was drawn to her. That and her damn perfume, all flowers and sweetness. It made me ache in a way I hadn't ached in over two years. She was like a drug, but stronger. My own personal hell, sent to torment me with all the things I wanted and none of the things I could have.

Back in the studio I pulled the drop cloth off the barely started painting. Bella stood there staring at it. "I don't see what's so bad about it," she said honestly, her brown eyes probing mine.

"It's just not good. I used to be able to do this in my sleep, now I can't do it at all." I covered the painting back up and walked away.

"So take photographs. I've seen the ones in the darkroom; they're brilliant.

"Taking pictures doesn't pay the bills," I muttered.

And painting them does?" Bella countered. "You're getting in your own way. Just point and click, it can't be that hard."

Bella grabbed a camera off the table, "Smile Jake." She grinned and raised the camera.

The flash blinded me; I turned my head as she snapped another picture. I glanced over my shoulder; the big utility cabinet that held the older cameras was three feet behind me. I backed up until I felt the flat surface behind me.

"Smile Jake, c'mon smile," Bella giggled.

I wrenched the door open and grabbed a camera and a roll of film. As Bella chased me around the studio I loaded the film into the camera. Behind me she was giggling like a maniac, snapping pictures. I got the film loaded and snapped the camera shut.

"Smile!" I hollered and snapped her picture.

"That's against the rules," she pouted.

"There are no rules" I told her and snapped a picture of her confused expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"It won't take anymore pictures. I think- I think I broke it."

"Its not broke," I laughed, "it's out of film."

Bella wiped her brow in mock relief. "Phew," she said with a nervous chuckle.

She walked across the studio and looked out the window. "Wow, it's really coming down out there," she murmured pressing her hand to the glass.

I finished with the camera and set it down. Bella was still standing with her back to me; I picked up the other camera and snapped her picture. Lightening struck as I snapped a second picture. A small smiled played at her lips as the bolt broke the sky open. I moved a step closer; Bella looked over her shoulder and smiled.

She was good at this, knew exactly how to look at the camera with that 'come hither' stare. I smiled back and she flashed that look at me again, my insides turned to mush. Images of last night flitted through my mind.

Down boy, I thought as I stared at Bella staring at me.

Another bolt of lightening lit up the sky; she turned and put her back against the window. I kept shooting as she popped a few buttons on her shirt. The pink lace cami she wore peeked out from behind the opened shirt. The flick of each button made my heart beat faster. I had stopped photographing her; I stood there staring, the camera slowly drifting down toward the table.

She undid the last button and the black shirt she wore fell away from her body. She slid her arms out and tossed it across the room.

Thunder rumbled, loud and angry, like the gods were angry at my lack of restraint when it came to Bella Swan. My breath hitched as she sauntered toward me.

Stop this, my mind growled. I can't, I argued, I want it, her, too much.

I stepped toward her; we met in the middle, my arms encircled her waist, "We can't do this," I murmured against her neck.

"Why not?" she sighed.

"Because it's wrong. You have a boyfriend and I have…issues."

Bella sighed, "Right now I really don't care about any of that. I want you- no, I need you."

I lowered my face, lips hovered right about hers. Bella was breathing heavily, Do it, my mind challenged, just fucking do it. Step off that ledge.

Suddenly there was a deafening boom and a loud crack as a massive bolt of lightening iluminated the entire city of Seattle. Bella screamed, grabbing my waist; the lights went out. All over the city, buildings and streetlamps and stoplights all went dark.

"Great," I muttered. "Stay here, I'll see if I can find a flashlight or some candles."

I bolted up the stairs, remembering there was a flashlight in the junk drawer, who knew if it worked; knowing me it was highly unlikely. I found the flashlight and clicked it on. The white beam of light flashed over the furniture, creating long shadows on the wall. Satisfied, I set out to find another flashlight.

In the back of the hall closet was a box marked 'storm supplies.' I snorted; leave it to Becca to always be prepared. I yanked the box open and found a couple packs of white candles and a lighter.

I grabbed the candles and headed back downstairs. Bella was lounging on the chaise hu8mming some upbeat tune.

"I found some candles," I told her, holding up the box for her to see.

She nodded and continued humming, her toes wiggling in time to the beat. Whatever song it was, it was as poppy as a can of coke, and as annoying as those singing high school musical kids.

Bella hummed a few more bars before her song started to annoy the living shit out of me.

"What the hell are you humming?" I finally asked.

She blushed in the candle light, "A song," she said.

"What song?"

"A song I know."

I hated this game, "What song you know?"

"A song I know and like; a song you'd make fun of me for liking." She started humming again.

"Yea, you're probably right. What song is it?"

"Burning up."

Never heard of it, I thought. "Who sings it?"

"The Jonas Brothers."

I burst out laughing, "Seriously?"

She nodded. "See, I told you you'd make fun of me."

"I'm not making fun of you. It's just not what I expected," I admitted truthfully.

"You don't know anything about me," she pouted.

"So tell me," I urged.

Reviews are better than cotton covered muscles..well almost..lolz

When my husband read this he said to me, "What does tenebrosity mean?" so that was the point of the asterix...its defined as: place, time that is unlit...sorry if there was any confusion..it was a word I'd never heard and it seemed to fit...

And again...thank you all sooooo much for reading and writing such awesome reviews...and I swear..the smut it coming...I promise :)