A/N: Happy Saturday everyone. Today's chapter is brought to you by the song Drown which has a wicked bass part. I keep quoting the song, Hurricane as well. Lyrics for the latter will be posted in an upcoming chapter.

I got some good responses last chapter. I expect I'll have some after this one, too. Thanks always given to MarinaNamaste for her help and support.

Enjoy.

Bella was beside herself. She was disappointed not to see Jake after the concert the night before, but she just knew he was talking…no, singing to her. Paul had sang all the songs the first concert she saw. Bella just knew that the switch was so Jake could give her a message. And then right after the concert, Carli had come and set up an appointment with Jake the next day. It wasn't a coincidence.

It couldn't be.

Her morning appointment with Seth had been a bit of a disappointment. He was all business and it wasn't nearly as fun as her afternoon with Embry. She was surprised to know how technical Seth's job was. He was in charge of keeping all of the guitars and basses in working order. And, that turned out to be a huge job as Jake had ten guitars all on his own. Bella was not aware that the different models created different sounds for the different songs. She had been fascinated by all the information Seth had given her, but it was all so, impersonal. That didn't matter, though. She had her appointment with Jake in a few minutes.

Shopping had not been as fun as she'd originally thought. Amy and Brittany were so excited and encouraging about her serenade from Jake, but Claire had been kind of a downer. Bella and the girls had stopped in the popular lingerie store to pick up some fun things when Bella got really frustrated with her.

"I just think you're reading too much into this," Claire said after Bella had gushed about her excitement yet again. She felt like a teenager all over again, and she liked it. She'd never really had the chance when she actually was a teenager. Edward didn't approve. "That's what they do. They play the audience, especially to ones packed with women. It's just good PR and Quil told me never to take what he did on stage seriously; that it was all part of the act."

"But why was Jake singing? Huh?" Amy asked, trying to defend her new friend dropping the pair of wonder woman boy shorts she was holding.

"Yeah," Brittany chimed in. "Paul always does the vocals. As many times as we've seen them, Jake has never sang lead on a song." Claire still seemed unconvinced and Bella did like that she was killing her buzz.

"I think Paul's throat was bothering him. I watched him drink a shit ton of soda before he went on stage. Quil was trying to get him to stop because his herbalist told him..."

"That's just stupid," Amy cut Claire off. "Soda can't hurt your throat. He was singing to Bella and that is that." She nodded her head as if that made the thing true and final. Bella liked Amy a lot.

"You should totally get all three of those!" Brittany gushed as Bella was looking at matching underwear sets. "And that one, too." She pointed to a cute lime green set. Bella smirked to herself as she imagined the look on Jake's face if he found this when he unwrapped her.

"I think I will. You know, Jake and I used to be a thing," she revealed to the girls. "He told me he'd always love me. I was just too stupid to understand what that meant at the time." Bella didn't want to reveal all the painful details. Claire frowned again and Bella thought maybe she was sad because this was her last night with the band—and Quil. Bella now understood how exciting all this was and could understand Claire's disappointment. But she wasn't going to allow the young girl's poor attitude bring her down.

Bella stood in her new, red boy shorts and matching lacey bra trying to decide what to wear for her time with Jake and the show right afterwards. She heard the bus door open and Carli's voice call out to her.

"I'm in here!" Bella called from her small compartment. Bella knew it was Carli's little room and was impressed with out neat and organized the woman was. "Come help me decide what to wear!" Bella opened the little bedroom door and Carli stepped in. Bella did not miss how Carli's eyes widened a bit at her new underwear. "Should I go with the sleeveless, sexy tee that you sent over, paired with the skinny jeans, or should go with the old, worn and large t-shirt with a pair of leggings?" Bella mused, pointing at her narrowed down choices.

"Ummm, I don't know," Carli stuttered. "Does it really matter?"

"No," Bella giggled. "This is the important part." She gestured to her new skimpy ensemble. I hope I'm not wearing it long after the concert." Bella felt bold in her new lingerie. "Did you see Jake serenade me last night? You said you knew our history. He just can't 'get me out of his head.'"

"He serenaded you last night?" Carli coughed on the water she'd just sucked out of her bottle. Bella just grinned the goofy grin she'd sported all day since it happened.

"I thought it would take longer than it did to convince him that he should give it—us, another try," Bella confessed. "I hear he has a girlfriend that everyone seems to like, but no one will talk about." Bella chewed her bottom lip. "I kinda feel bad for her. She obviously has no idea how deep our friendship is."

"What makes you think he was serenading you?" Carli asked, biting into the side of her own cheek. Bella didn't notice the tightness in her voice. She'd decided to go with the loose t-shirt and the leggings. Bella suspected they'd be easier to get off if and when the time came.

"Well, Amy and Brittany said that Paul always does lead vocals, but Jake stepped up to the mic last night and sang. Then," she giggled, "when the words 'I want you back' came up he looked right at me. I've been listening to that song all day. It's my new favorite. After feeling like Drag me Hell was written about me," Bella pulled the shirt over her head, "having a song called Can't Get You Out Of My Head sung to you is much better." Bella bent over to pull the leggings up and adjusted everything in the full length mirror that hung on the back of the little compartment door. "I guess that he worked through his angst about me." Bella thought for a bit. "Maybe that's what his trainer is for? I met him the other day." Her mind had been racing a hundred miles and minute since she woke up.

Bella looked at Carli with a grin she hadn't sported in years. She felt so light, so carefree. She figured she understood why touring was so attractive for those who did it. If things worked out well with Jake today, she could really see herself doing this traveling bit. It was exciting. And she could totally work from the road. Journalists could write from anywhere.

"You think?" Carli asked. Bella caught the flex of her jaw. She looked stressed.

"I hope," Bella said, finally noting Carli's mood. "Oh, I'm keeping you, aren't I? I forget how much you do around here. I'm so sorry." Bella slid her feet into the new sandals she bought. "Lead the way to Jake." Bella beamed. She had butterflies in her stomach. Bella looked up at Carli when the woman sniffled. "I hope you're not getting sick," Bella added. "Summer colds are the worst!" She smiled again at Carli.

"I'll be fine." Carli wiped her nose on the back of her hand as they exited the bus. "Alan will pick you up in about an hour. Jake will need to get to sound check."

"Oh," Bella pouted. She knew Jake couldn't spend too much time with her before the show, but she just assumed that after they made up she could go around with him and not be escorted by "his people" any more.

"Something wrong?" Ness asked as they stopped in front of a tour bus she hadn't seen yet.

"No, I just thought…" Bella drifted off because she could almost feel him on that bus. She'd waited for so long to reunite with Jacob—more than just a friendly hello—to return the heat of that night they shared so long ago. It was so close she could feel him.

"It's all for security," Ness said and Bella barely heard her.

"What is?" Bella asked, licking her lips and bouncing on the balls of her feet. She wished Carli would just take her inside already

"All the escorting from place to place. We have to vigilant about security," Carli clarified.

"Sure, sure," Bella said and she thought she heard Carli's breath hitch. She watched Carli's hand hesitate before she pounded three times, paused and then pounded once more. Bella concluded it must be some sort of secret knock. The door opened and Embry came out. He looked at Bella and smiled, then at Carli.

"Fuckin' idiot," Embry mumbled as he walked away. Bella looked at him and wanted to ask what was wrong, but the need to get inside that bus and to Jake was stronger. Carli had already stepped up and Bella followed quickly.

"Everything okay?" Carli asked flashing a curious look at Jake who just nodded.

"Fuckin' hurricane," Jake said and turned out a weak smile. Carli nodded before she looked back at Bella who was watching the odd exchange.

"I can feel it," Carli quoted. She looked back at Bella who was thoroughly confused. "Alan will be here in about 45, then Jake," she looked back over at him, "I'll be in the lighting booth for the rest of the night. The circuit boards are acting funny and I have to go figure out what to do. I may have to go see Aro before the night's out and see if he can't rush the custom board we ordered. It's gonna be pricy if we look too needy."

"He likes you," Jake grinned, "you'll get his price down. I trust you." Bella watched Carli smile back. She inhaled deeply and nodded seemingly to make some internal decision.

"I probably won't see you until tomorrow. Break a leg," she said. Her eyes flicked to Bella again and Carli left without another word. Bella was so relieved. They stood there staring at each other for a few beats.

"I never thought she'd leave," Bella finally said and peeked up at Jake through her eyelashes.

"Bella," Jake stared, but she stopped him.

"Jake, wait. I know it's been a long time and I'm sorry I left that night the way I did. But after last night," she stepped towards him, "and that song." He took a small step back. Bella figured that was a gut reaction to her bringing up the past. She felt terrible about leaving him after their very special night. She'd given him her virginity so she'd have something to remember him by for the rest of her life with Edward. She didn't realize that leaving Jake was the biggest mistake of her life.

"Bella, I don't think," he tried again.

"No, let me get this out. I chose Edward over you and I'm so sorry I did that. I'm sorry that I ever left. It should have always been you." She took another step closer and he didn't back away. She saw resolve harden in his eyes and that made her a little braver. "I got confused about who I was and what I wanted. Edward confused me. He still does. But you never did. Things were always black and white with you. They were always," she sighed before she continued.

"Easy as breathing," he finished with her. He was looking at her like he used to. She took another step closer and they were only inches apart. She watched as his eyes closed and he bent slightly and inhaled deeply. She remembered that he always liked the scent of her strawberry shampoo. She still used it.

She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. It took a few beats, but she finally felt his hands settle on her hips. She looked up at him. He was so tall and strong. He was a man and she was only acquainted with the boy. She looked forward to getting to know this new body.

"Jake," she breathed, "kiss me." It was a quiet and earnest plea. He closed his eyes, inhaled again, and pulled her hips closer to him before his lips touched hers.

Let me have it.