Hey guys, thanks soooo much for the reviews! They really make me smile. I just want to say that I won't post again until I get ninety reviews. However, if and when I get 90 I will post REALLY soon after that. Also, suggestions in your reviews would be really nice. I'm running out of ideas!

After a few minutes, the rain stopped and I released her, very unwillingly. She was still recovering and still had her eyes closed. She opened them and let out a contented sigh; she looked around and realized what had just happened. She stared at me for about twenty seconds and then did something I was, and at the same time wasn't, expecting.

She slapped me. Quite hard, it actually made a slapping sound and I think it left a red hand print.

"You'll be in touch." And with those four words, she just got into her car and drove off.

So I did the only thing I could do, being in a dumbstruck daze. I got in my car and drove back to the office. I walked like a zombie through the building, giving a dazed "Hi" to Jasper, Emmett and Jessica. And then I stumbled into my office, canceled all my appointments, and turned on my Powerbook.

BPOV

I can not believe what just happened. How dare Edward Cullen kiss me like that! OK, so maybe it was rude to ignore him, or at least attempt to ignore him, for the entire meal. That however does not give him the right to just grab me and… well…. You get the picture.

And anyway, how could I forget about Jacob? He was the one that I liked. He had great taste in everything from interior decorating to shoes, and he was the one that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. He was so big and strong, he always got my jokes, and he always knew what to say to make me feel better.

Yet… there was something about Edward didn't have. Some quality that he didn't possess. I couldn't pinpoint what it was, and I tried to forget about Edward completely.

I planned to ask Jacob out to dinner with me, anyway, when I got back to Forks.

When I reached the office, which wasn't really an office but a tiny rented space, Jacob and Beryl were having a celebratory cup of coffee. I poured myself some and sat down with them. We chatted for about half an hour, and then Jacob drove Beryl home. I knew that when he got back would be my chance to ask him, so I nervously dried the coffee mugs and put them away and tried to read the paper.

Finally, after what seemed like years, Jacob returned noisily.

"Hey Bells! How was your date with Cullen?"

His voice was so nice and smooth, like honey.

"Just awful, don't even bring the memory back!" I omitted the details of the last five minutes.

"Awww, that's too bad." He sat down in the chair and started fiddling with a pen.

It was now or never… here was my chance. "Say, Jake, what would you say to catching a bite with me later, down at La Push?" I said, trying my very best to sound confident.

He thought for a moment, considering, and then said jovially, "That sounds good, Bells!"

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

We were walking along the beach, after having stuffed ourselves with lasagna at the local Italian. I'd taken my shoes off, and Jake had done the same. We came to quite a large tree and sat down on the roots, looking seaward.

"You know Bells, I've had quite a nice time tonight. You are very fun to spend time with."

We had spent most of the conversation cracking jokes, talking about some of the strange clients we'd had, telling funny stories etc. I had noticed we rarely talk about much serious stuff.

"It's nice to spend time with you too, Jake."

We spent some more time just looking out at the water. It was lovely on a clear night, a rare exception from the clouds and rain. The cliffs looked foreboding, but restful somehow; like they were asleep.

"Jake," I said nervously, "I would like to spend some more time with you."

He looked sad, but I didn't really notice. I leaned in to kiss him, and was moderately surprised when he ungratefully leaned away.

"What is it?" I cried, past being smooth.

"Bella, you don't understand, it has nothing to do with you. It's my fault."

I couldn't grasp it. He looked so sad; I knew he didn't have a girlfriend; I had been to his apartment. What was it?

Then, like a bolt from the blue, it hit me. The amazing fashion taste, the interior design, the beautifully cut suits, the cologne.

"Jake…" my voice lingered away from the inevitable, but he confirmed it.

"Bella… I'm…. I'm gay." He spat it out, like it was something to be ashamed of.

I was shocked for a minute, but then I felt bad for him. It must have been so awkward for him, knowing that I liked him but not wanting to tell me why he couldn't return my feelings. So I wrapped my arms around him and buried my head in his broad chest.

"Don't worry, Jakey! I don't mind. It's entirely your decision. I'm so sorry," I trailed off. I lifted my head from his chest and a startling revelation hit me for the second that night. I pinpointed the one quality that Edward possessed and Jacob didn't. Edward had an aura of this quality; you could become intoxicated off it by just standing next to him. He had the one thing that you rarely find in men, that is becoming more and more unusual. He had a little something called sex appeal.

EPOV

I surfed the internet, trying to figure out what to do for a date. Something that Bella Swan would considering thoughtful, elegant… brilliant… good looking…

I found no ideas from the internet. I slammed down the screen of my Powerbook and buried my head in my hands. I found the position quite comfortable, and stayed like that until I heard a knock on the door. It turned out to be Jessica. Oh boy, what a treat! I thought.

"Mr Cullen?" She sounded slightly alarmed at my position. I didn't lift my head.

"Yes?"

"Can I please leave two hours earlier today, at four?"

"Why?"

"Err…" she giggled, and I hoped it was something really embarrassing, like liposuction or something, "I have a date with… err… Mike."

I smiled secretly to myself. Although Jessica was an absolute nitwit, she did do a fairly good job as my secretary.

"Yeah, sure. That's fine. Go have fun."

She shut the door and I was glad Mike Newton had diverted her attentions from me. Almost one minute after Jessica left, there was another knock on the door.

"Yeah?" I yelled.

Alice bounced in happily and smiled.

"Hey Mr Cullen! How's stuff? Anyway, I'm taking Jasper golfing. I'm going to show him how to play golf! I figure giving his ego a ninja kick in the nuts will teach him not to treat women like crap."

"Um… I don't think Jasper is going to learn not to treat women like crap by playing golf against you, Alice. He's pretty good."

She smirked malevolently at me.

"Oh, that is where you are wrong, Mr Cullen, so so wrong." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "I was the 2005 junior world champion."

"Oh. OK, have fun." I had suspected Alice to be some kind of sportswoman, although I had pegged for tennis, not golf.

About a minute after she left, (bare with me) there was another knock at the door.

Rosalie stalked in, tall and blonde as ever, looking determined.

"Hi, Mr Cullen. Just thought to let you know that Emmett and I are going cliff diving."

This really shocked me.

"Are you serious? Emmett is scared of heights! How did you get him to – "

She cut me off.

"Don't worry, I told him we were going to WWE. I'm taking the limo, so he'll probably be too busy drinking to notice where we are going."

"Rose, are you sure that he will be safe with you? Have you done it before?"

"I was 2005 U.S.A. Cliff Diving National Junior Champion."

I waved my hand and she stalked out again. I resumed my position with my face embedded in my desk.

It was depressing to have a woman constantly rejecting me. It was ten times more depressing when everyone around you had partners, going out on adventurous dates…

When I couldn't think of one.

But right then…

Inspiration hit me.

So I picked up the phone and dialed.

"Hey, Sam. Can you ring for the jet? Yeah, about half an hour. OK, cool. See you." I slammed the phone down on the receiver and grabbed my car keys.