Clarification Point. Leah's baby was Jake's. I put in the thing about them breaking up because I wanted it to be clear that they were NOT together. He wasn't the kind of guy to break up with her pregnant or leave her or something, his feelings changed before any of that started. It was just the timing of when she found out that was after the break-up.

I know this chapter is a little fluffy, but I hope you like it, it was cathartic after so much drama, don't worry, there will be more.


I pulled my truck into the parking lot of Forks High and smiled. It was going to be an interesting day. A lot had changed in the last 48 hours; with me, with my relationships, and strangely no one here knew about it. It felt like a meteor had struck the earth and somehow I was the only one who noticed.

I got out of the truck, enjoying being able to wear a short sleeve shirt and my hair pulled up into a ponytail. The sun was starting to thaw our gloomy town and I could feel the energy of spring in everything around me.

I hadn't gotten to talk to Jake the night before so I was worried if he was OK and I was excited to see him.

Alice's red VW Cabriolet was parked by the front entrance, it was gleaming in the sun, clearly freshly waxed. Alice was twirling on Jasper's arm, as he stood there, calmly smiling at her antics. She was giggling, enjoying the feeling of her skirt swirling around her. She was so cute in her short flirty skirt and big dock martins. I watched as she came in for an easy kiss and smiled. That was how it was supposed to be, comfortable and loving.

Edward was sitting on the hood of the car talking to Jessica and Erik. He had a black eye and his nose was clearly swollen but it wasn't splinted so I guess Jacob hadn't broken it after all; too bad. I tried to walk past them to get to Alice, but he got up and threw one arm over my shoulder casually.

"Morning Bella!" he said happily. I looked up at him, aghast that he would talk to me, let alone touch me. "Come here…" he said pulling me to the car and sitting back down. I stood in front of him, waiting for whatever it was he felt the need to say to me when he put his hands on my hips.

"Edward…what are you doing?"

"Look, no one here knows about what you did this weekend and they don't need to OK? I forgive you."

"You forgive me!" I started to yell.

"Shhhh, don't make a big deal" he said, eyeing our friends, trying to keep me quiet. He stood up and pulled me to him in a hug.

"Edward!" I said as he laughed, clearly trying to make this into some kind of couple game in everyone else's eyes. And then, of course, I heard Jakes bike pull up. I turned to look at him and saw the anger on his face as he saw me in Edward's arms.

"Let go of me now!" I said quietly but as forcefully as I could. I stomped on his foot causing him to break his hold and rushed over to Jacob.

"Jake!" I said.

"Hey Bells" he said tightly, grabbing his bag.

I leaned in and pulled his face to me. "I missed you" I said as I kissed him gently. I could feel him relax into me and then he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"I missed you too, I thought for a second there that maybe…" he said as he leaned his forehead against mine.

"Someday you're going to start trusting how I feel about you" I laughed and looked up at him. He smiled and kissed my temple.

"Ok, I'll try to start today ok?" Jacob took my hand and we walked back over to the group. I held on to his hand tightly as I felt everyone's eyes on me.

"Bella?" Jessica said, looking from our hands to Jacob to me.

"I traded up" I said simply, squeezing Jake's hand, shrugging my shoulders. Erik's eyes bulged out of his head and then he started laughing. Jacob beamed at me and Alice giggled. I could feel Edward's eyes on me but I refused to return the look.

Edward started to say something but Alice coughed and raised her eyebrows at him. He slumped down on the hood of the car and didn't speak.

"Come on, I'll walk you to class" Jacob said smiling. He nodded to the group and they watched us walk away.

"Well fuck me!" I heard Lauren say behind us.

"I keep trying!" said Tyler grabbing Lauren into a hug, causing another fit of laughter in our wake.

"Traded up…" Jacob chuckled "What am I going to do with you?" he said turning to look at me.

"Love me forever?" I said bumping against him laughing.

We walked to my locker hand in hand. I tried to ignore the fact that everyone was looking at us, but it was hard. I hated all of the attention but nothing could make me let go of his hand or regret this moment. Jacob was glowing like he'd just one the lottery, talking animatedly about the work he'd gotten done on his rabbit. "So, you should come out after school one day and we can work on homework and I can show it to you."

"I'd love that, maybe tomorrow?"

"Yeah, and hey, have your Dad come meet us, my Dad would love to have him over." Jacob was talking more then he had ever before. It was a comfortable banter, he listened to what I said and we moved along in conversation together from topic to topic.

When we finally got to my first class I sighed. "I'll see you in English OK?"

"Ok, see you then" he smiled and leaned in to give me a kiss. I pulled away, starting to get a little short of breath. "Think of me till then…" he said and nibbled on my ear. I shivered, knowing that was exactly what I'd be doing.

"Go on now you" I said. When he turned to walk away I slapped his ass and squeezed it. It was high and firm and I could feel where it tucked back up to the top of his leg. He turned his head and gave me the steamiest look he could muster, making me start to get warm at my center until he cracked a wicked smile and blew me a kiss. That Jacob was trouble, everyone definitely was right about that.

I turned around to walk into class and pretty much slammed into Angela and Jessica. Angela had seen Jake and I the day before but still hadn't really gotten any kind of an explanation. "Bella, what is going on?" Angela said.

"Yeah, cause this boy hopping this is really confusing" Jessica said looking like thinking this hard was actually going to cause her physical pain.

"Not really, I was with Edward, now I'm with Jake" I said walking past them. Jessica's jaw fell on the floor as the bell for first period rang. As much as I knew my friends were dying of curiosity I didn't really want to put the whole story out there. I didn't want to think about Edward or what could have happened with him and I didn't really know how to explain that what happened between Jacob and I wasn't as sudden as it seemed from the outside.

Angela sat down next to me, turning her chair to look directly at me and waited. Bio never started on time and she knew it, plus today was lab day which I hated so she always did all the work so she knew there was no excuse for me not to talk.

"I don't pry, you know that ok? I don't want to be Jessica and demand you tell me every steamy detail; but Bella, come on, this is really…weird…"

"It's really not Ange, it actually makes total sense."

"But last week you were like in love with Edward and Jacob didn't seem to be paying you any attention at all."

"I know, we, had a fight, but we cleared that up so, you know, it's good now."

"Were you dating him while you were with Edward?"

"No!" I said, without thinking "Well, I don't know, kind of, I didn't mean to be but things just kind of started that day on the beach…"

"Yeah, we could all see that but I didn't figure you to cheat on Edward, I mean he's…Edward! You're like the perfect couple. Not that Jacob isn't totally hot, but I guess I didn't figure you for going for the dangerous type."

"Trust me Angela, Jacob is not the dangerous one in that equation."

She stared at me, not understanding but willing to accept what I was saying at face value. "OK, well that's good; it'll be nice to have someone to hang out with on the Rez other then Embry."

"So things are going well with Quil?" I asked, hoping that if I could get her started in that direction I wouldn't have to talk about Jacob anymore. Class had started and we were dissecting some poor creature's eyeball today. I let Angela do the work while she talked and giggled over Quil.

"He hasn't said anything directly but I know he's worried about Jacob"

"I know, Quil's a good guy, Jacob's ok, he's just, got some shit to deal with"

"God don't we all, can you believe my mother wants to drive across country to Virginia to see my grandparents this summer? I think I'd rather eat this eyeball then spend 5 days in the car with my parents and little brother"

I laughed, happy to just be back to chatting with Angela, she really was the best. I could always count on her to care, but not push. Between her and Alice I had never had better friends and couldn't imagine that I ever would.

When we got out of class I walked out hoping to find Jacob, but instead ended up walking to English alone. I stopped by my locker and grabbed my books and saw Mike up ahead coming toward me down the hall.

"Hey Mike!" I said when I got closer.

"Hey Bella, so…can I call dibs on your next boyfriend shuffle?" he said smiling, but I knew there was part of him that meant it.

"Definitely" I said giving him a peck on the cheek. I was in such a good mood today even his flirting couldn't deter me.

"Bella wait" he said as I started to walk to class.

"Look, just go slow with all of this, OK, you're like bubbling over today, I've never seen you like this."

"Mike, I don't want to go slow. I don't think I've ever been this happy before."

"You just broke up with your boyfriend, you've gotta think about giving him some time too you know?"

"Mike, I…Edward is not the victim in this OK? He's been an ass for a while now and was getting really…controlling. I didn't just jump from Edward to Jacob? Edward made it really easy to go."

"Oh" Mike said running his hand through his hair "I guess I don't have the whole story, but Edward really isn't telling it like that" he said looking at me.

"I really don't care what Edward is saying Mike, you've known for a while, I know you have, I've seen you watching me with him and you never came out and said it but you always made it clear you didn't like how Edward was with me"

"He looked at you like he owned you or something, like you were something to eat!" Mike said, surprising both of us with his outburst.

I smiled up at him, knowing that beneath Mike's guy-ness and crush, he was a good guy. "Thanks Mike. I'll talk to you at lunch OK?" I said scurrying to class, afraid I'd be late to English. Ms. Watson was not easy on us for that.

When I walked into class I looked to the back of the room expecting to find Jacob sitting at the desk in the back but he wasn't there. My good mood fell a little but he'd be there soon. I started to walk in when I saw Jake sitting in my seat next to a very unhappy Edward. He smiled and waved at me with pure glee.

I walked over "what are you doing?" I asked.

"Miss Swan? I hope you don't mind but Jacob was having a bit of trouble seeing the board at the back of the class and requested to switch seats with you. Do you think you'll be ok at the desk in the back?"

"Oh, ah, yeah, sure, that's, that's fine…" I said, looking up at Ms. Watson.

I looked down and glared at Jacob only to be rewarded with the biggest happiest smile I've ever seen on anyone over the age of 4. I couldn't resist laughing as I walked back to my seat.

I watched the Edward and Jacob show during class more then I listened to the lesson. Jacob was taller and stronger then Edward and felt no need to share the table. By the end of class Edward had scooted firmly against the wall and was using only the smallest corner of the desk in front of him. Jake on the other hand had his books and notes spread out and was sitting with his hands behind his head.

I watched as Jacob dropped pencils and papers making it necessary for him to move around as much as possible and eventually even asked Edward to borrow a pen. I thought Edward was going to loose it right then and there.

"It's not nice to torture your inferiors" I said to Jacob as we walked out of class laughing.

"That obvious huh?"

"Oh yeah…I think even Ms. Watson enjoyed the show though, but you better watch it. You don't want to push him too far."

"Why, what is Eddie going to do to me?" He smiled a mischievous smile and wrapped his arm down around my back, hooking his hand on my hip bone. I loved the way he walked with me, not like he was claiming me but more like he couldn't stand to be too far away.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, lunch was the most awkward but people rearranged themselves pretty easily. Basically Edward moved to the other side of Jasper and Lauren went with him, clearly making a play for my leftovers. More power to her. The completely deserve each other.

Jacob sat next to me, but admittedly, I spent most of lunch sitting on his lap throwing things at Erik who was having way too much fun speculating on what we had done after leaving the movies on Monday night. Jacob never took his hands off of me. During class he held my hand or had his hand on my knee. When he needed to write he had his leg next to mine, our outer thighs and knees touching as much as possible.

His warmth, his closeness was something I needed to feel. The few classes we had apart were physically painful. There were a few stolen kisses here and there, but I tried to keep them as chaste as possible. Jacob tasted so good, I knew that once I got started I wasn't going to want to stop until I was sweating and screaming his name.

After school the sun was still shining and Alice had turned the radio on in her car and was lying on the hood. The roof was down so the music was spreading out and people were congregating near by. The day was fresh, still cool enough that you could taste the clean spring air. Outside I waited for Jake, sitting on the grass across from Alice's car.

I laid back in the grass, listening to the lyrics, and closed my eyes. The ground beneath me was dry and hard, but I didn't care, this was one of life's blissful moments. I felt someone lie next to me and reach out to hold my hand. My hand fit in it naturally, casually, fingers intertwining. But it didn't feel right somehow. I opened my eyes and rolled to see Edward lying next to me. "I knew you'd be happy to see me" he said, looking up at the sky.

"What in gods name is wrong with you" I said sitting up pulling my hand away. "I'm trying really hard not to talk badly about what you did on Friday night and you keep pulling this shit."

Edward sat up and looked me in the eyes. He sat like that for a moment and then tilted his head "Yeah, smooth move having your Dad call my house. Thanks for that." He said.

I stood up and walked away from him "look, I just want to talk all this through" he said grabbing my arm.

"I have no interest in talking to you" I said turning around and shaking him off of me.

"So what, you go from sneaking out to sleep with me one day to the new guy in one night?"

"No Edward" I said taking a step back toward him "I was never interested in sleeping with you, you were a poor substitute for what Jacob had already given me" I said looking his square in the eye.

Edward stepped back, balking at the new information he'd received. He'd known I was a virgin so the idea that I was sleeping with Jacob was something that would really shock him. "You slut!" he screamed and took a step toward me, pulling his arm back like he was going to slap me.

I stood there, chin up, waiting for the blow. I was not afraid of him and would not give him any excuse for what he was about to do and I wanted everyone to see him do it.

But he didn't have a chance. Alice had seen what was happening, hopped off her car and kicked him with all of her strength in the shin with her shit-kicker boots. "Stop it, NOW" she said leaning into where he was bent over.

She turned to me and put her arm around my shoulders "why do you insist on poking the bear?" she said playfully.

"Sorry Alice, thanks for being my hero" I said pulling her into a hug.

"Hey, that's supposed to be my job!" Jacob said next to me. I looked up at his open, beautiful face and received the peck he gave me with a whimper for more. He laughed and we were joined by everyone but Lauren as they filtered from their classes. She went over to see what was wrong with Edward.

"What did you see in him?" Jake asked me shaking his head

"I don't know, he's pretty and intense and he used to be a lot of fun, he just got too…I don't know, focused on me or something"

He walked me over to my truck and I threw my bag in on the passenger seat, "so, you wanna come over for a while or do you need to get back home?"

"Hmmm", he said leaning his body towards mine "let me think…do I have anything I need to do that could be more enticing then spending the afternoon with you...."

I slapped him softly on the arm and leaned up to say into his mouth "I'll make it worth your trouble"

"Now that I can't resist" he said, coming the rest of the way toward me for a kiss. "I'll follow you" he said, throwing his bag in the bed of my truck and going over to get on his bike.

I climbed in the car with a smile, knowing I was going to get a ride when I got home. I had to shake my head to refocus on what I was doing; the thought of him against me, inside me was distracting.

I started up the van and pulled out of the parking lot, glad that Edward and Lauren had joined the group as Alice waived good bye and brought her hand to her ear, saying I should call her with a smile.

Jacob beat me to my house and was sitting on my steps "Thought you might have kidnapped my bag" he said standing up to greet me at my door.

"Collateral" I said walking past him with a smile.

I let us into the house and walked into the kitchen but before I had a chance to grab a glass of water I felt Jacob behind me. I was pushed softly against the kitchen counter, his body behind me.

"Bella…" he whispered into my neck, my hair was up today giving him full access to my throat. "You smell delicious" he said, placing little kisses on my skin. I leaned back into him as he wrapped his arms around me, bringing one big warm hand up to my breast. He massaged me and licked my skin, holding me firmly but gently. I stood up on my tip toes, wanting to feel him against my ass.

"Jake" I said, turning around in his arms "kiss me". I placed my hands on his chest and stood taller against him. He brought his lips gently to mine, moving them smoothly against mine. I tried to hop onto the counter, placing my hands behind me and jumping, but just managed to step on his toes.

"Sexy" he smiled as he lifted me up to where I was trying to go. We continued to kiss, him between my legs, hands on the top of my thighs, rubbing me as I pulled myself as close to him as I could. I was moving against him, rubbing my chest against him like a cat begging to be pet.

I dropped my hand to his chest, the other pulling at the back of his neck, digging my nails into his skin as I moaned for more of him.

His hand was moving to my back and up my shirt. The initial feeling of his skin against mine made me shiver with pleasure. His skin on mine was a drug; it was rough with calluses, warm and gentle.

"Come on love" I said, pulling back from his kiss just a little, "let's go upstairs" He stepped back to allow me to hop off the counter but pulled me into another kiss before letting me take his hand and pulling him upstairs.

Jacob closed my bedroom door when he entered behind me. We stood looking at each other, not saying I word. I reached to the bottom of my shirt and slowly pulled it over my head. He stood there, breathing heavily, not moving or saying a word. I stepped back to the edge of my bed and reached around to take off my bra.

Jacob clenched his hands into fists, opening and closing them as he watched me with fire in his eyes. I undid my bra and pulled it around me, keeping the cups over my breasts but allowing the straps to fall of my shoulder. He took a ragged breath and nodded.

I dropped my bra and stood before him. He took a step forward and I shook my head no making him smile and step back.

I put my hands on my belt and undid the button. Our eyes were still locked together. As I undid the zipped I nodded to him and he took off his shirt in one swift movement. Grabbing it behind his neck and pulling it over his head. It was such a fluid movement, so easy. That was Jake, his body was a force of nature, like water, unstoppable, ferocious and perfect.

He put his hands on his belt and raised his eyebrows at me. Slowly I shimmied out of my jeans, leaving my underwear on. He watched me, following my movements with his eyes, his eyes taking me in. I could feel myself blush but I loved the look on his face as he caressed me with his gaze.

He undid his pants and stepped out of them as he walked over to me. I sat on the bed as he came toward me and leaned back onto my pillow as he got on the bed, hovering above me. We were both still in our underwear but there was something intensely sexy and erotic about him looking at me this way. His eyes stayed on mine as he lowered his weight on me and leaned into kiss.

I felt his skin against my chest and my arms slid under his ribs and around his strong back. I could feel the muscles holding him up and I arched up against him to press my chest against his skin. He moaned into my mouth, licking my lip and bringing one hand down along my face.

I kissed down along his neck to his shoulder where I chewed on him gently. His hand was at my hip now, his eyes closed.

"Jake…" I said

"Yeah Bells" he whispered, pulling back to look at me

"I love you, no matter what, I love you, I want you to believe that OK?

"I do honey, I do" he said leaning in to kiss me again. I could feel how hard he was against me and I moved my hands up and down his back, working one hand into the back of his boxer briefs to grab his ass. As I did that he allowed more of his weight to fall onto me and rocked his hips against me.

"You are so warm…" he murmured into my neck as he suckled my skin. His hand was on my breast now working my nipple. I rubbed my foot up and down his leg and he stopped what he was doing to lean up and look at me. "Are wearing socks?"

"Oh!" I said, blushing, having forgotten about them, trying to push them off with my feet.

He laughed his full warm laugh and looked at me with that twinkle in his eye. "You are such a 'tard Swan, I love you"

He kissed me while we were both still laughing and my socks were forgotten. I pushed his underwear off and he pulled mine down off of me. Laughing when he got to my feet, rolling his eyes and pulling the socks off of my feet.

"But now they're gonna get cold!" I pouted and he roared again

"I'll keep you warm" he said bringing his mouth down on my hip bone. Licking it and breathing onto me. He kissed my mound with so much pressure I gasped and bucked up to him, making him look up at me with that wicked smile of his. He came up to me then and kissed me. I reached my hand down between us and guided him into me. I didn't need more than this today. All I needed now was the feeling of him inside of me.

As he slid into place he moaned and I arched into him. "God you're so perfect, it feels, it feels like home." He said looking at me again.

We lay there not moving looking into each other's eyes. "It is home Jacob, It's yours, I'm yours, you're all I want, you're all I need"

He leaned down, kissed me and started sliding in and out of me. I could feel him everywhere. It was like my skin was consumed with him. As he stroked me inside, my hands grabbed his neck and hair and back. I pulled him to me, kissing him and wrapping my legs up onto his hips.

We rolled onto one side and continued moving together, finding a new angle that made us both gasp. I arched away from him and he grabbed my hand, holding it over our heads as we rocked and rocked and rocked. I pushed my hips into him, feeling him at my center and my instincts took over. His hands held me in place as I thrashed against him, losing myself in the rhythm of his body against mine.

Jacob is strong and his hands on me gave me what I needed to push against as I rode out the wave that was starting at my center. "Touch me" I screamed, feeling myself approaching the oblivion of pleasure.

He took one hand and started rubbing at my clit with a callused finger and I rolled him over so that I was on top of him. "Jake…" I said looking at him as I started to shudder. My body coiled and relaxed over and over again, bringing me higher and higher to ecstasy. He was grunting and thrusting up into me hard and steady.

He slammed into me harder that I would have though my body could take, but whatever he did it released a dam inside me. I shook and came with so much power I couldn't have stopped it if I tried. I could feel him twitch below me as he grabbed the sides of the bed and screamed, his head bent back, the muscles in his neck clenching.

When we were both spent I leaned down and kissed his shoulder. Knowing that no matter what had happened in the past, no matter what happened now, we would get through it together.

Now I INSIST you listen to this song, and definitely read the sample lyrics below, it's PERFECT for Jake and Bella

I'd Rather Be With You by Joshua Radin http://popup(DOT)lala(DOT)com/popup/504684642129748704

Now here's the sun, come to dry the rain
Warm my shoulders and relieve my pain
You're the one thing that I'm missing here
With you beside me I no longer fear

I need to be bold
Need to jump in the cold water
Need to grow older with a girl like you
Finally see you are naturally
The one to make it so easy
When you show me the truth
Yeah, I'd rather be with you
Say you want the same thing too