Wednesday, July 4th, 1957

Dear Diary,

I woke up early and helped Granny with breakfast. Everyone had to be at the carnival pretty early for some reason or another, so not long after everyone was done eating, they left to get ready. After the kitchen was cleaned and the dishes were washed and put away, Granny helped me get into my dress and do my hair. She washed it and combed it until it shined. Granny said it would be cool enough in the evening that I could keep my hair down and let the curls flow down my back, so we went ahead and left it down. When I looked in the mirror afterward, I felt really pretty – like someone Jacob wouldn't be ashamed to be seen with.

Mama called in the middle of me getting ready, so I stopped to talk to her for a minute. I hadn't talked to her since I had first arrived, and it made me feel somewhat homesick to hear her voice. She told me about the happenings of the small town that we lived in, which didn't consist of much other than the Crowley and Newton Boys tearing through the flowerbeds again. She asked if we were planning on going to the carnival, to which I told her that we were. I hesitated for a minute before telling her that I had a date and that Granny had bought me a dress and helped me get ready. But, I thought better than to keep secrets from Mama, so I told her. She squealed ridiculously loud and quickly assumed that 'Edward Masen had finally sunk his claws into me'. When I informed her that it wasn't Edward Masen, but instead Jacob Black, she just said that was nice, to take pictures, and to stay close to Granny. I told her that I needed to go and to tell Daddy I said hello and that I loved him before hanging up and slumping down in a chair at the dining room table.

Something was bothering me about the way that Mama showed so much enthusiasm for Edward but so little for Jacob. Either way, I wasn't letting Mama get me down before my first date. I had a date!

It was just after noon by the time that I was dressed and ready to go. While waiting on Jacob to come, I helped Granny load the car with the apple pies and the jars of preserves she decided to sell last minute. My nerves were dancing wildly right under my skin, and the task helped to calm them some.

We were putting the last few items in the car when a noisy red pick-up truck came barreling down the road. Granny just gave a small smile and shook her head when Jacob got out of the truck and came walking over to us. He was wearing a pair of black slacks with a dark blue button-down shirt. It was different seeing Jacob in something besides a tattered old white shirt and dusty blue jeans, but I liked the change.

I ran inside to grab my sweater while Granny stopped Jacob and talked with him for a minute. Undoubtedly she didn't like the way some of Jacob's friends were hanging out of the bed of the truck and that they had made the girls sit back there. I caught the tail end of her telling him I had to be in the cab, or I wasn't going.

It's not like I had never sat in the bed of a truck before, but I guess something like that was to be expected, seeing as I was her only grandchild and this was my first date ever. Jacob assured her that he would have it no other way and agreed to have me home as soon as the fireworks were over. I gave Granny a big hug, quietly whispering my never-ending gratitude for her allowing me to go out with Jacob into her ear, before I ran and grabbed Jacob's hand and practically dragged him to the truck. I was really excited!

The ride to the carnival didn't seem long at all. I was placed in the middle seat between Jacob and his friend, Quil. Quil was such a big guy, he was almost scary looking, but he had such a beautiful smile. Every time he would drive over a bump or a dip in the road, it seemed I was tossed up against Jacob. This didn't help my nerves as any contact between us sent tiny shocks along my skin. He must have felt it too, because he would just look down at me and smile.

When we arrived at the carnival, all of his friends jumped out of the back of the truck and helped their girlfriends out as Jacob stepped out and held out a hand for me. Once I was out, he didn't release my hand and I smiled to myself. His hand was so big and so warm, and I never wanted to forget the way my hand felt in his. I silently hoped that he wouldn't let go of my hand the whole time we were there.

He led me around to the back of the truck where he introduced me to all of his friends. Quil's girlfriend was Claire, and she was really nice. Seth was a year younger than I was and didn't have a date. Jared was there with his girlfriend Leah who was really pretty, but she didn't seem to like me too much... or at least that was the way she came off at first. Jacob said to just ignore her because, and I quote: 'that's just Leah.'

We walked around with his friends for a while, playing games and riding a few of the rides with Jacob insisting to pay for everything. I got a little dizzy on the Tilt-A-Whirl so Jacob sat with me on a picnic table and told his friends we'd catch up with them. While sitting there, he leaned over and asked if I wanted to leave. After a few moments I assured him I was feeling better and ready to go find the rest of the group. We stopped by the pie contest booth and talked to Granny for a minute before continuing on to find everyone else.

As we walked around, we talked about all sorts of little things like school and favorite colors. He even told me some of the stories about his parents. We had no luck finding anyone by the time it started to get dark. There was music coming from the other side of the carnival, so we began making our way towards it, knowing that would be the place to find them. We spotted Leah and Jared already on the dance floor, along with Quil and Claire. Seth was sitting at a picnic table with Sam and Emily and some other people I didn't recognize.

Jacob asked if I would like to dance, to which I eagerly agreed. He led me out into the middle of the dance floor and we began dancing. We did The Stroll, the Jitter-bug, and the Bosa Nova before any slow songs came on. I was having the time of my life with Jacob and couldn't seem to keep the smile off of my face. When the music slowed I wasn't nervous... until Jacob pulled me close to him. Really close. Closer than anyone has ever held me before, outside of Mama and Daddy. I could feel almost every inch of him pressed against almost every inch of me. Him being that close to me sent tiny ripples of heat all throughout my body. His sweet breath blew across my face and if I didn't know better, I'd say he was as nervous as I was.

I looked up into his eyes and smiled. With that smile, all my nervousness seemed to just melt away. I felt safe and happy right in that moment with him. If I could, I'd stay with him forever just like that. He glanced around quickly before looking back down at me and slowly, ever so slowly, closed his eyes and leaned down towards me. I figured he was going to kiss me and, although my heart began beating like crazy and my breath seemed to have escaped me, I began to also close my eyes.

Next thing I knew, Edward Masen pulled me away from Jacob and started taunting him, and saying ugly things about him. Jacob stood there and didn't say anything... nothing at all! I was so shocked and embarrassed because everyone started staring at us when Edward started yelling about Jacob being a 'savage' and a 'chief' and a 'red-skin'. When I heard those words come out of his mouth, I did the only thing I could think of. I slapped Edward! If felt so good to finally put him in his place!

That is, until he grabbed my arm and started shaking me roughly. He asked Jacob if he was trying to make me his 'squaw' and started laughing. I didn't see what happened next – because I was too busy looking around at the people who had stopped dancing around us – but Jacob must have hit Edward because Edward was then laying at my feet with blood pouring from his nose.

Sam stood up and started to come our way, but Emily stopped him and made him stay where he was. Jacob grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him as we walked away from the on-lookers.

We stopped behind a cotton candy booth so that Jacob could catch his breath and calm down for a moment. I was pretty shaken up after what I had just seen. I had never seen a real live fight before, and it happened so close that it scared me a lot! Jacob turned to me and asked for the second time if I wanted to leave, his reasoning being that the date was ruined thanks to Edward. But again, I assured him that I wanted to be there with him and that when I was ready to go home I would let him know. I couldn't be mad at Jacob about what happened. The awful things that Edward was calling him and saying, I really think it says a lot about Jacob if he was willing to just stand there and take it. He didn't seem to react until Edward put his hands on me. If anything, Jacob saved me from being mauled by him!

Jacob bought me a cotton candy afterward, and as we were walking away, we heard the fireworks beginning. The field everyone sat in to watch the fireworks was more than full by the time we got there, so we planted ourselves in the very back and looked up at the sky.

I would look over every so often at Jacob and see his dark, almost black, eyes shining down at me. He wasn't watching the colors bursting above our heads. He looked happy and that made me happy. Despite what had gone on earlier in the night, I was enjoying being with Jacob. At one point, I scooted closer to him to be warmer since I forgot my sweater in the truck. He had then wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his chest, causing my skin to tingle with his touch once again.

Once the big finale was almost over, I looked up to smile at Jacob. I realized in that moment, my feelings for Jacob were spiraling dangerously out of control. I know, it's only been a week or so since I've been here, and I'm young and Granny and Mama think I'm naive, but there is just something about him that makes me want to be so much closer to him. So, when his eyes fluttered close and his lips came down towards mine, I did nothing to ward him off.

It was... well, it was the most amazing thing that's ever happened to me! It didn't last very long, and it didn't cause fireworks to dance around my head, but it was just so sweet! His lips are so soft and they melded perfectly with mine. His breath was minty and warm. All of him was so warm. It was as if he radiated sunshine. Almost like he could be a sun himself. Jacob, the sun. Jacob, my sun. He pulled away from me and just gave me the biggest smile ever. Then he placed one more small kiss on my nose before standing up and pulling me with him. I hadn't realized that the fireworks were over, but they were.

We found the rest of the group as we were on our way towards the parking lot. Sam and Emily were with the rest of them and he mentioned something to Jacob about hurrying home after he drops me off. The ride home was very quiet, no one spoke about what had happened. I felt, for some strange reason, that they weren't talking about it because I was there. Quil wasn't as talkative as he had been earlier in the day with me and it sorta hurt my feelings. I really didn't want to cause any problems between Jacob and his friends, or anyone for that matter. I felt like the whole thing with Edward was my fault.

I knew that Edward thought all of the people that worked the farm were beneath him because they weren't white, but I didn't agree with him. Jacob held more likeable qualities than Edward could ever hope to! Edward seemed to just act like a spoiled brat who couldn't accept not getting his way. Well, I for one, will not give in to him. If it comes down to a choice, my choice will be Jacob. Every time. If he's okay with that, of course.

The light in the kitchen window was on when we pulled up to Granny and Pawpaw's house. I knew Granny would be waiting up for me, but I couldn't help and try to drag out what little time I had left with Jacob. We walked slowly up to the house, hands entwined, and me blushing worse than I think I ever have!

Jacob told me how much fun he had had and that he would like to take me out again if it would be okay with Granny and Pawpaw and of course, if I was willing. I wasn't sure what caused me to do it, but I leaned up on my tip-toes and pressed my lips lightly to his as my answer. I really hope he understood that that meant 'yes'. He sucked in a slight breath, seeming shocked by my actions, and then placed both hands on my back and pulled me closer to him. I breathed in as much of him as I could with my lips still tightly pressed to his, hoping to carry his scent with me once he was gone. I was the one to pull away this time and then quietly thanked him for such a fun night. He lightly kissed my nose before nudging me towards the door as he turned and went back to his friends.

Granny was sitting at the table when I came in. She asked me about what happened at the carnival. I divulged every little detail except for Jacob holding my hand and the kisses we shared. Granny said I shouldn't have slapped Edward like that and also that Pawpaw is going to have a talk with Jacob about what happened the next day. I dismissed myself after that because I felt like I was doing nothing but causing trouble for Jacob and it felt horrible! I got the impression that Granny had more feelings about my friendship with Jacob, although she never shared them. There was just a look in her eye that told me she didn't wholly condone it, but she was waiting for something.

The day had started out so perfect, all to come crashing to a halt because of Edward Masen and his preposterous idea of trying to dance with me! I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, but one can only hope that it turns out better for everyone than today did.

With thoughts of Edward aside, I'm sure there are a few things that will cause me to not sleep too well tonight – Jacob's lips and his kisses!

A/N: Okay, so I'm so fucking sorry that this has taken me so damn long to post. Truly, I am. I experienced a colossal pain in the ass called writer's block or whatever you'd like to call it. I just couldn't write at all. Didn't matter if I wanted to, it just wouldn't come for me. - that sounds dirty. :P Either way, I hope this was up to your standards. Onwards...

A few things about this chapter: the terms 'savage', 'chief', 'red-skin' are in no way how I see Native Americans, this was just Edward Masen being a jackass. Bella is very innocent and naive and tends to see things in black and white with no gray area. She really likes Jacob and doesn't see the color of his skin as a problem. Just wanted to clarify. Anywho...

I had a plan. My plan was to write all of my stories out completely then post them altogether or a chapter a day or something like that. Sound like a good plan? Yeah, not so much when I couldn't even decide WHEN or HOW OFTEN it would be posted. And let's face it, all of my stories are still in the ground laying stage so that would have taken forfuckinever. I'm not going to promise yall updates on a regular basis as of right now. This is really just to see if I can get myself back at it.

Umm, you can thank LuvinJ for making me right something... if it sucked just blame it on her. :D Okay, and if you couldn't tell, this doesn't have a beta anymore so if anyone would like to volunteer to help me, also known as selling your soul to the lord of the underworld, it would be greatly appreciated. So yeah, and if you'd like a detailed explanation on WHY I haven't posted, just check over on JBNP where I also post this story. That is all for this horrific author's note. Oh yeah, I don't own shit of Twilight, SM does. -km3-