I waited on my hospital bed, hands shaking while I waited for Jake to get here. It felt like I was waiting for an eternity before I heard the rushed footsteps outside that got closer and closer to the curtain that gave me a sense of privacy. Then the curtain was yanked back almost violently, and there he stood. Jake. The guy whom I hated so much, the one that cares so much about me that he didn't want me to walk through the forest alone. His deep tan, glorious black hair perfectly sculpted muscles that were barely hidden under his muscle shirt and shorts. Then he was in front of me and I was wrapped in his warm embrace, and he didn't let go. Not that I wanted him to.

"Oh, my god, Piper are you alright?"

I nodded against his chest. "Better now..."

He didn't reply. He just held me tighter. A few stray tears leaked down my cheeks. Jake pulled me away to look at him, he wiped the tears away and cupped my face. "Do you know how worried I was? Your mom called the house last night about a half hour after you left asking if you were still there. When I told her no, she said you hadn't come home yet." His thumbs ran over my cheekbones as he continued. "I was so worried. I thought you had gotten in a car crash..."

I tried to keep my breathing steady while I responded. "I know, and I am so, so, so sorry. I guess I was still a little sick." I mumbled, but I knew he had heard me.

"Never do that again. Promise me."

"I promise you, Jake."

And we were back in the situation again. He was so close, and I was so hoping. His eyes bore into mine, but not in a bad way. The scorching heat that radiated off his body warmed mine better than any drink, or any artificial heater. I stared up at him, unable to look away, and this time, I knew it would happen. This time, we would kiss. He was almost there. I closed my eyes and braced myself for what I knew would be the best kiss I've ever had. Not that I had anything to compare it to.

The curtain was yanked back again and Jake backed away, taking several steps to reveal Dr. Cullen. He smiled at me, noticed Jake and apologized. He checked my vitals quickly and left again. But I knew the moment was once again gone. Jake and I had almost kissed - once again - and we were interrupted.

"Piper?"

I looked up at him once Dr. Cullen was gone. "Jake, I was so scared." I admitted, only now realizing that there was no use in hiding anything from Jake.

"I know, but I'm right here. It's all over now." He soothed, and he was holding me again, while tears leaked from my eyes.

"But, Jake, what if he comes back? He said I would learn his name later on." I continued to admit.

We stared at each other, both of us confused, and after a moment, got over it and we fell into old habits. We started talking and goofing around, acting like friends. Careful not to strain my stitches and Jake helped me walk around for a while, stretching my legs. But if I was going to walk around and not be stationary, I had to bring my IV and the blood bag. So while we walked, I supported myself on the pole that the bags were hooked up to.

"Hey, tired of walking?" Jake asked, gesturing to a wheelchair that was abandoned in the hall we were currently in.

"Yeah, I could be. If you're going to push me." I teased, sitting down in the wheelchair without letting go of the pole.

Jake graciously wheeled be around and pushed me back the way we came, saying something about probably getting me back to the room before someone came looking for me and I wasn't there causing a panic. No doubt my mother would think red eyes was back for me. So I let him bring me back in the wheelchair.

I didn't mind that it was a little odd how fast Jake was wheeling me back, but he was worried about me, obviously. I was okay with that, I mean why wouldn't I be. It was Jake, and I was comfortable around him, more so than I had been when we'd first met. I guess time does that to people. But what did worry me was that Jake was a little twitchy, he watched everyone that passed.

A howl pierced through the air as we made it back to my bed and Jake stopped. "Jake? What's wrong?" I asked, standing up and moving back towards the bed but he was already running away from me, and disappearing into the crowd of people just outside the curtain. "Jake!" I called, but he was already gone. Just disappearing into the crowd of people.

I eased myself onto the bed, frustrated beyond belief that Jake had just left like that, just gone... Just ditched me. What on earth was so important that he had to run through a hospital crowd, for gods sake.

There was something hitting the window in the room that I had been given to rest until I was able to go home. But it was rain, of course. The pause of the inevitable rain falling upon the small town of Forks had ceased, and the rain fell against my window, slowly but evenly. I couldn't sleep, so I got up and pulled on a light sweater over my hospital gown.

As quietly as possible, I walked through the halls with the IV and blood bag and made my way to the front door. I leaned against the side of the building and breathed in the musty air that came with the rain and with the forest. It had always been a smell that I always associated with home, one that I would actively try to find. Whether it be sitting outside in the rain, or sitting outside afterwards.

"What are you doing?" I turned towards the voice, and it was Jake. Standing in the rain, his shorts soaked, and without a shirt. Hell, that was a distraction.

"Breathing in the air." I explained, and he stared at me. "I couldn't sleep."

"Would you like to go out when you get out of here?" He asked.

"And where would we go?"

"It's a surprise." He said, and I raised an eyebrow.

"So, like a date?" I wondered aloud.

"Only if you want it to be, Pipes." I bit the inside of my lip, thinking it over.

"Alright, I'll go. But as long as it isn't a date." I informed him, turning towards the door. And as my hand touched to door knob, he spoke once more.

"I'll pick you up at eight, and wear a jacket." He told me, and without another word, I went back inside. So, an outing with Jake? This should be interesting. I laughed to myself as I got into the elevator to go back up to my floor, at Jake setting up a candlelit picnic in a meadow. Or even us sitting together at an italian restaurant, with someone playing violin in the background. I laughed again.