AH/OOC Jacob has a new girlfriend and production on the Twilight Saga in Baton

Rouge is almost complete. Everyone is in good spirits except for one person who

can't understand why she can't accept her best friend's new relationship.

Bella made it back upstairs before the allotted five minutes was up. However, rather than approach Jacob as he was clearly expecting her to do, she chose to go and sit once again in her seat next to Edward.

One quick glance in Jacob's direction confirmed he was not happy with her decision. His frown only deepened when Edward turned towards her and smiled, squeezing her thigh. Apparently, she had been forgiven for her earlier slight and was missed. She could only wonder just how he would act if he knew of her worse transgression in his absence. Edward was someone who was strongly opposed to infidelity. You just didn't go there, in his opinion.

Truthfully, the only reason she came back within the given time frame was because she didn't want to risk Jacob coming back down and fulfilling his promise of them not returning to the party. She knew if he kissed her like that again, she'd let him do anything he wanted. Her head was still too fuzzy and conflicted when she was around him.

Bella clung to Edward's side the rest of the night. Edward sensed something was off but mercifully didn't push her on it. For that she was grateful. She still needed to sort out her thoughts about what had happened downstairs and what was continuing to happen with Jacob.

She did her best to avoid his gazes, engaging in conversations with Alice and Esme. When Nessa joined in, Bella remained quiet yet attentive. Jacob tried once or twice to speak to her directly in front of everyone, like normal, but she had a hard time meeting his eyes. She simply nodded or shrugged and contributed a few words as a reply. He had even asked her, very loudly, if she wanted to dance. She politely declined, begging off due to exhaustion, and looked elsewhere. She still felt wrong from all that had transpired between them.

Jacob was a close friend, nothing more. She was sure of that now. She had just been confused as to why she felt the way she did about him with Nessa. That was all. But it was all cleared up for her with that kiss and the way she was feeling now. While she was physically attracted to him, the guy did know how to kiss, there was nothing else there. She deeply cared about him and did not want to put them both through the wringer for one crazy moment of giving over to their hormones. She could not afford to lose this friendship, not with more filming to go on Breaking Dawn and most importantly, not ever. She loved Jacob. She would kill for him, literally. But she did not feel for him what she felt for Edward or even Michael once upon a time.

Her attention was immediately diverted to the person who had just sat down on her left side. When had Jackson gotten up? She knew immediately who it was when she felt his breath in her ear, making her shudder.

"Bella," he whispered. "Are you really trying to avoid me?"

She grabbed her champagne glass and took a sip, thankful and yet annoyed at the same time that Edward was deep in conversation with Emmett. "You mean until you can keep your hands to yourself? Yep," she muttered.

He chuckled and sat back in his chair. "I wasn't the only one. Seemed like you enjoyed these hands when they were on you." Bella scoffed and turned to glare at him.

"Please. If Jasper had come downstairs and wanted to make out, I probably would have jumped on that, too. Like I said, I wasn't thinking clearly and had a bit too much to drink."

She saw his face fall a little and she was immediately tripping over herself to apologize. Regardless of this weird thing between them right now, she still loved him. He was still Jacob.

She sighed quietly and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be mean or make it sound like you don't matter to me. You do. But, it was a mistake, a huge mistake, and I'm sorry. We just have to let it go and move past it. Go back to the way things were. We both have other people to think about. And I know you, Jacob. Like you said, you're not a cheater. You're the good guy, the one who treats a girl right and takes care of her. You pull out their chairs and hold the doors open for them. You're good to them. You're not the bad ass you're trying to pull off right now. You're the one they take home to meet Mom and Dad, not the one they cry their eyes out over for fucking them over."

His eyes snapped to hers and she pulled back slightly. The look he was giving her she couldn't read but it was intense. The calculation in his eyes alone nearly scared her.

"That's what this is about? Because I'm the 'good guy' and not the guy who goes out and messes around on you first chance he gets? Last time I checked, I wasn't the one hooking up with some nasty blonde as soon as your back was turned."

Bella was furious. How dare he throw that in her face? Who was he to make such a judgement when he was insinuating they should do the same? He knew how much it hurt when that happened with Edward. He knew that she believed Edward when he promised nothing happened. He knew how long it took for her to get there. He knew. And still he used it to hurt her. Why? Because she had simply spoken the truth, let him down as easy as she could think to? What the hell was wrong with him?

She snorted. "Last time I checked, you were. And it certainly didn't help you any, did it?" She refused to look at him, even acknowledge that he was existing as she turned her body back towards the group that was laughing loudly and telling stories. She quietly sipped her champagne and ignored the near muted sound of the chair scraping next to her from being pushed in. She didn't need to look to know that Jacob was gone.

She took another sip and told herself that even though she felt slightly bad for hurting him, he had asked for it. He had been acting like a cocky little shit ever since that scene downstairs and he had it coming. She had told him that she had made a mistake, that it didn't mean anything, that she loved Edward. Why couldn't he accept that? Why did he have to try to act like someone he obviously was not and keep pushing?

She was distracted from her thoughts when she saw Jacob walk over to Nessa and lean down to whisper something in her ear. Nessa glanced back at him questioningly and he nodded, keeping his gaze on hers. Nessa nodded as well and got up from the table. Jacob grabbed her jacket and held it out for her.

Bella narrowed her eyes in their direction. What exactly was he trying to pull?

Jacob and Nessa went around the table and said their goodbyes to everyone. When they reached Edward and Bella, Jacob shook Edward's hand and Nessa smiled at Bella.

"Thanks for having us."

Bella gave her a half smile and a small nod. "Anytime." She couldn't be more gracious than that though she knew she should. She felt a twinge of guilt that the girl ws being nice to her when she had just been making out with her boyfriend downstairs.

Jacob turned towards her. Bella braced herself. This was it. Would he try something again even with both of their significant others standing here next to them, watching? Or would he do something with Nessa or insinuate what would happen fifteen minutes from now with her to try to make Bella jealous?

But instead, she was met with indifference. He glanced behind her and then back at Edward, refusing to meet her eyes. "Have a good night, Bella. See you both Monday."

Edward smiled amiably and wrapped an arm around Bella's shoulders, pulling her closer. "See you then."

Jacob nodded, put a hand on Nessa's back and escorted her out.

Bella was shocked. Not once did he do anything that she expected him to. Him not meeting her eyes really started to bother her. Had she really hurt him that badly? God, did he hate her now? Shit.

Edward kissed the side of her head and asked her if she wanted to go outside for a cigarette. She internally shuddered at the suggestion, remembering all too well what happened last time she had. With her luck tonight, she and Edward would be caught canoodling by a camera lens for sure. She refused and he nodded, saying he'd be right back and headed out the door.

Bella slowly sat down, thinking on everything that had happened. She hadn't meant for everything to get spiral out of control so quickly.

She pulled her legs up to her chest and hugged her knees. No matter what Jacob had said, no matter that he had kissed her first, this was all her fault. Jacob would have never had any cause to even ask her about her feelings if she hadn't been so obviously conflicted and bothered. Jacob wouldn't have had any reason to think if he pushed that she would give if she hadn't kissed him the way she had. No, this one was on her.

Alice called her name and she glanced up to see everyone watching her in amusement. "He'll be right back," Alice told her kindly. Bella watched as Jonas pulled her in tighter to him so he could kiss her cheek. It reminded her of Jacob with Nessa and she felt that horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach again. She shook it off and smiled wide. She grabbed her champagne and took a sip before putting on the best performance she had given that week and talked to her friends.

Bella glanced at the clock one more time from the bed.

3:17

Edward was out cold, snoring quietly next to her.

No matter what she did, she could not go to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Jacob's lifeless expression. There was none of that light his face usually had, no merriment dancing in his dark eyes, no luster in his bright smile. He looked...hurt.

And each time Bella's eyes would open and she would sigh quietly and glance at the clock to see only two minutes had passed. She needed to talk to him. She couldn't wait for Monday. And as the hour since she'd been home got longer and longer, tomorrow morning wasn't a plausible idea either.

She stealthily snuck out of bed, grabbed her phone and headed downstairs. She sat down in the kitchen at the counter and stared down at the device.

It was too late to call him. He'd either be asleep or in the middle of something she didn't really want to interrupt. Just the thought made her stomach clench. Stop being a pussy and just call him. If you wake him up, so what? This is important. He means too much to you. You're both adults. Just call him. She hit the enter button on his message, closed her eyes and held up the phone to her ear.

Please, please, do not let them be doing anything. And please do not let her be the one to pick up.

When it rang several more times, Bella admitted defeat and was about to hang up. No way could she leave this on a voicemail or even ask him to call her. What if his girlfriend heard it? She lowered the phone to press the button when she heard a sound emanate from it.

"Hello?"

She stared at it shocked and then brought it back to her ear.

"Hello?" He asked for the second time. His voice was huskier than normal and she knew she had woken him up. She immediately felt guilty.

"H-Hey," she whispered.

"What's wrong?" The grogginess was no longer in his tone. She knew he was alert now. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, um, I just-"

"Did something happen? Are you hurt? Did he-" She didn't wait to hear what he was thinking. She didn't even want to know what he would say.

"What? No, no! I'm fine!" She winced at her increased volume and glanced towards the doorway. When she was satisfied Edward wasn't coming down the stairs to find her, she whispered again into the phone. "I promise I'm fine. I, um, I need...to talk to you."

"Now?" She winced again, this time at the obvious disbelief in his voice.

She bit her lip and pulled her legs to her chest. "Uh, yeah, I mean, I know it's late and sorry but...I kind of need to talk to you." She let out a silent breath. "Now."

"Can't it wait?"

She started to chew on her thumbnail nervously. "No...it kind of can't."

She was met with absolute silence. She had started to wonder if he had hung up on her when he spoke again. "Give me a minute."

She flinched. He sounded extremely annoyed. Well, in reality, who wouldn't be when someone calls up in the middle of the night, waking you from a sound sleep, to talk about the weird feelings she's having for her friend? She might be annoyed, too. At least that's what she kept telling herself. It was better than him harboring anger with her for what she had said to him back at the restaurant. "Sure," she barely whispered in response.

She heard some shuffling in the background and then a very tired yet soft voice ask, "Who is it?"

"It's nothing, babe. Go back to sleep. I'll be back in a few." She heard a small smack of lips and her face screwed up in disgust.

She heard a click and then more shuffling before another click. "What's up?"

Bella's eyes widened. Shit, he was really pissed. He was never this nasty to her, even those few times he had been angry with her for one reason or another.

"Jacob, listen, I..." She closed her eyes and ran a hand through her hair, stopping halfway through. "I'm sorry for what I said before. I didn't mean it."

She heard him scoff. "What the hell are you playing at, Bella?"

Her eyes popped open. "W-What?"

"You were all over me tonight and then you're pushing me away, telling me you had too much to drink and it was a mistake, and now you're calling me in the middle of the night to tell me you want me again?"

Her mouth dropped. She knew she needed to correct his assumption on her reason for calling but it was out before she could stop it. "You kissed me!"

"Yeah and you kissed me back. You wanted me then, you still do."

"That is not-"

"Don't even. If you didn't, why else would you be calling me at 3am, sneaking around while Edward's asleep?"

"I am calling you," she said through her teeth. "Because I wanted to apologize for what I said to you about Blondie. Because I lo-" She stopped herself from using that word. Usually, it wasn't a big deal. They had always thrown that word around playfully and meaning it in the way it was supposed to be meant between two friends. But with this new place they seemed to be in, it just wasn't a good idea. "Care about you too much to hurt you like that."

"You didn't."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I did. I know you."

"Nah, you didn't. Besides, I said it to you first about Edward so, I'd say we're even."

Bella smirked. "Is that an apology I hear?"

A deep throaty chuckle sounded across the line. "Not even close."

Bella rolled her eyes again, this time chuckling as well. "Of course." Silence followed and Bella smiled happily. It felt like things were easing back into their old joking pattern again.

That is, until Jacob's deep voice spoke up. "Bella."

She tucked her hair behind her left ear. "Yeah?"

"Why did you kiss me back?" All the amusement had evaporated from his tone along with his previous anger. Now, all she could hear was honest curiosity and wonder.

She rubbed her forehead back and forth. "I-I told you. I had too-"

"Don't say that," he pleaded.

Bella dropped her hand and lifted her eyes to the ceiling. "What?"

"Don't say that's the reason," he pleaded again. "You know it's not. You were fine then, you were fine when we left, and you're fine now. Why did you really kiss me?"

She ran her fingers through her hair once more. "Jacob-"

"No, Bells." Bella did a double take at the name he used. Only her mom and her brothers called her that and occasionally, Rose. "I want to know the real reason. Stop trying to rationalize it by saying you drank too much. Every time you do, it kills me." Bella felt a sharp pang in her chest at his heartfelt whisper. He sounded so hurt. Didn't he understand that that wasn't her intention? She never wanted to hurt him. Ever. She would protect him from anyone who tried, including herself if that's what it took.

"What happened out there tonight, what we felt, it's real. And every time you try to play it off as some drunken mistake, you make me feel like shit."

Bella held a hand to her chest. "Jacob, I'm not trying to make you feel like that. It kills me that you feel that way. I'm not saying this is you. This is my fault, okay? I know that. I-" She pulled her hand through her hair frantically, trying to come up with something that wouldn't hurt him yet explain her temporary craziness earlier. "I just-you kissed me and then-I don't know-you caught me off guard and I-it wasn't-I don't know." She exhaled a heavy breath, exhausted by her effort to try to get the words out. She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead again. "I care about you, Jacob, okay? I really do. You're such a-good guy-the best guy I know and I'm so incredibly lucky to have you as my friend but I-" She dropped her hand to the counter and shook her head, angry at the herself for the tears that were starting at the corners of her eyes. "It can't happen again. It was a mistake, a sober mistake. I fucked up and it never should have happened. And it won't. Ever again. I'm sorry."

She took deep breaths to prevent herself from breaking down and crying, fisting her hand in her hair. Why was this such an impossible feat for her? Why couldn't she just tell him straight out, 'Taylor, I love you but only as a friend. I love Edward,' and that's it, the end? Why was she having such a hard time with this?

She then realized he hadn't said a word, hadn't made one sound. She got her breathing under control and spoke. "Jacob?" Nothing. "Are you still there?" Still nothing.

Bella sat back in the chair in defeat and broke. She fought the sobs, releasing quick ragged breaths, and pulled the phone from her ear. She shut her eyes tightly, not allowing one tear to escape and exhaled loudly. She took one more deep breath and then opened her eyes, sniffling, and picked the phone back up.

She closed it gently and ran a hand through her hair before sitting back in her chair with her arms crossed. She stared off into space, thinking over every detail. Through everything, Jacob had made one good point. Why had she kissed him back? Why?

Had she not, this wouldn't even be an issue between them right now. And she could be fine with Edward and Jacob would concentrate on his relationship with...her. Bella snorted and shook her head at herself.

Way to go, Bella. Way to fuck everything up.

Her phone started to vibrate on the counter and she overcame her shock fast enough to grab the device before it made too much noise.

"Jacob?" She asked, breathlessly. "I-"

"Can it, Bells. I don't want to hear it," he cut her off. She frowned and closed her mouth. He was angry again. "Since you're too scared to do it, I'll cut through the bullshit myself."

Before she could protest, he continued. "I kissed you tonight and you kissed me back. You weren't drunk, you admitted that. It bothers you to see me with someone else, don't even try to deny it. And now, you call me up in the middle of the night to tell me that you're sorry for what you said when clearly it could have waited until tomorrow. But it was that important to you to talk to me without either Edward or Nessa around." He stopped, waiting for his words to sink in and boy, did they. If this were anyone else, Kristen would have agreed. It sounded exactly the way Jacob was making it out to be. But, this wasn't anyone else. Bella knew how she felt.

She shook her head again. "Jacob," she began.

"No, Bella. I want the truth. Do you want me?"

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, and tried to start again. "Jacob-"

"Yes or no?"

She sighed loudly into the phone. "I...I don't...I mean, I'm...arrrgh." She ran a hand through her hair again in frustration. She breathed deep and then rested her forehead in her hand.

Why was she struggling with this so much? Why couldn't she just say no and reset the boundaries between them? Allow their friendship to return to what it was? Bella, what the fuck is wrong with you? Just fucking say no already.

"I..." She sighed again.

"I want you," he confessed.

Bella's lids flipped up and her mouth fell open.

"I've wanted you ever since we started hanging out," he continued, in the quietest of whispers. "I've always wanted you."

"Jacob," she whispered back sadly. How was she supposed to tell him no now? Without hurting him deeply?

"I still want you, Bells." He let out a long exhale. "Now you know. So, tell me...do you want me?"

What could she say? She wracked her brain for an answer, anything.

"Bella," he pleaded. "Just tell me."

She licked her lips and went to speak. "I-"

The light in the kitchen went on and blinded her with its brightness. Edward appeared a second after. "Bella?" He called.

His eyes searched the room until they landed on her. "Hey," he said sleepily as he walked over to her. "Who are you on the phone with?"

She acted without really thinking about it.

"Rose, I'll have to call you tomorrow, okay?" She said into the phone.

"Bells, please don't," he pleaded on the other end. She felt a pang in her chest to hear the sadness in his tone but she couldn't think. Not with Edward staring at her the way he was.

"Okay, yeah, just call me after, okay? Have fun." And then she lowered her phone, hitting a button to clear the screen. She gave Edward a small smile before sliding off of the stool and leaning on his arm. "Sorry, she met this guy and wanted to talk about it. You know her." She rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

Edward smiled and nodded, leaning down to peck her lips. "Let's head back to bed."

She nodded in response and let him lead the way.

Her phone burned in her hand with the weight of the guilt she felt. She was going to have to wait until Edward was asleep again to try to call Jacob back. Or at least text him to let him know she would talk to him alone when she could.

She knew it wasn't just as simple as that. She knew Jacob had put it all out on the table now. And that scared the hell out of her.