Hey y'all it's been a while! Good news is this is the first date chapter and a peek into the second date. Life has been crazy lately, between teaching and prepping for next school year. Let me know your thoughts on this chapter!

I've been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

And we walked down the block to my car and I almost brought him up
But you start to talk about the movies that your family
Watches
Every single Christmas and I want to talk about that
And for the first time what's past is past

'Cause you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
I've been spending the last eight months

Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

~Begin Again-Taylor Swift

"Are you attached to your sandy coffee?" Jake asked as we walked back over to my previous spot on the sand. The tense moments dissolved between us in a matter of seconds.

"I only had a few sips of it," I shrugged. I looked down at the sand covered travel mug as I spoke.

"Can I get you a new one?" Jake asked, his eyes meeting mine. The man knew the fastest way to my heart was through caffeine.

"Sure," I agreed. I knelt down to grab the travel mug before walking alongside him to the parking lot. Jake helped me put the canvases in the trunk of my car.

"If you want, I can drive us there or you can follow me," Jake suggested. I remembered that I was spending the night at Angela's.

"I can follow you," I responded. Jake nodded as he walked towards his Rabbit. Taking a deep breath, I leaned up against my car. There wasn't a doubt in my mind Angela would freak out when I told her.

When Jake pulled out, I followed behind him. He led us to a small strip mall. La Push was fairly small and I remembered him telling me they had a strip mall. There were stores scattered throughout the reservation.

He pulled into a parking spot in front of a small coffee shop; the coffee shop had a few outside tables. I looked down at my hoodie and realized I had paint splattered on the sleeves and on my midsection. I pulled down the driver mirror and grimaced as I saw paint streaks on my cheek.

How could Jake take me serious when I looked like this? I attempted to rub away the paint with my thumb. Jake tapped on the glass moments later to grab my attention.

I shut the mirror before I opened my door.

"Why didn't you tell me I had paint on my face?" I asked him. He let out a chuckle as he walked me to the front.

"It suits you," Jake replied. I rolled my eyes.

"You always have paint on you, when you don't I get worried," Jake explained. He did have a point; painting served as a coping and relaxing mechanism for me.

He opened the rickety door for me. The coffee shop played traditional Quilieute music, I picked up a few of the songs by the bonfires I'd been to.

"Is this the place you got coffee from when you brought it to me for finals?" I asked curiously.

"Yep, I'm not a Starbucks guy. And there's no Starbucks in La Push," he responded. I wasn't a fan of Starbucks either and the coffee he brought me that day was excellent.

I looked at the menu for a moment before I decided to stick to black coffee.

"Hi, can I have a medium hot coffee?" I asked the friendly barista.

"Of course," she replied.

"That'll be two dollars," she said.

"Do you mind if I cover it?" Jake whispered in my ear. I felt goosebumps where his lips brushed my ear.

"No," I replied almost breathlessly.

"I'll have the same," Jake said to the barista. She poured us both coffees in mugs before she handed them to us. He handed her a five-dollar bill before he walked us over to a small round table.

"I forgot you drink it black too," I mused with a laugh.

"Charlie likes all the crap in it, doesn't he?" Jake asked as he held the mug.

"Yeah, I'm trying to wean him off it," I laughed. I studied his face for a moment before I noticed the prominent circles under his eyes. He always had dark circles under his eyes.

"Jake, do you ever sleep?" I asked, concerned.

"I nap a lot," he responded. I rolled my eyes at his response.

"Jake...sleep is healthy, you know. Besides, do you ever get a night off?" I asked. Surely he had to get a night off. I imagined his patrol could be similar to Charlie's...

"Nope, but it's what I have to do, Bells," Jake said before he took a sip.

"But it can't be healthy what you're doing. Are there really any vampires here?" I asked, whispering. Jake took a deep breath before he pursed his lips.

"We caught a scent of a new one a few weeks ago...We've been on alert since," Jake admitted. He cautiously worded his statement which was interrupted with pauses; he had a calculative expression on his face. Maybe he was waiting for me to fall to pieces at his words.

I could feel my heart drop to my stomach as I gulped. Could that mean Victoria was back? Or maybe one of the Cullens...

"The animal attacks," I murmured, remembering Charlie mentioned something about it a few weeks ago. Those took place in Port Angeles though. I imagined they were by a vampire.

"They're not by wolves," Jake said, gripping his mug tighter. If not by wolves that left one supernatural creature I knew of left...

"So vampires?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice down.

"Yeah, they're happening once or twice a month now...The police let the case grow cold until a new one shows up," Jake replied. Those poor people...I hated that innocent people were victims of these crimes.

"Do you think there's more than one?" I asked.

"We've only gotten the trail of one, but it's possible," Jake replied. He could see the fear in my eyes as his hand stretched across the table to hold mine for a moment.

"I will keep you safe, Bells. I promise, they won't touch you," he vowed.

"I just don't want you to get hurt," I murmured. I didn't want Angela to get hurt or Charlie because of this. I couldn't put the pieces back together if Victoria was back, but the last thing I wanted to have happen is any one to get hurt in the crossfire.

Jake chuckled before he rolled his eyes.

"Bella, I'm fine. We can deal with this," Jake assured me. Victoria managed to outsmart the Cullens almost three years ago. The wolves were powerful, but Victoria was older and craftier.

She managed to evade the Cullens and she sought revenge. I could feel the color fall from my cheeks as I stared at the coffee in my mug. Jake must have noticed my change in demeanor as he reached across the table to gently take hold of my hand.

"Don't worry about this, we'll take care of it. You're safe with me," Jake said with confidence. As his deep soulful brown eyes met mine I believed him. At his words, color returned to my cheeks.

Jake saw my return to calmness as a chance to change the topic.

"So about these three dates..." Jake began with excitement blooming in his tone.

"Does this count as one?" I asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope," Jake said, popping the p. It had been months since I'd been on a real date. Sure, Angela and I went out with fake IDs to bars for drinks a few nights at the end of the semester, but that hardly qualified as a date.

"I was thinking dinner," Jake said for clarification. I worked a few days this week at the diner.

"I work doubles on Monday and Tuesday and Thursday," I said, biting my lip.

"Does Wednesday night work?" Jake asked.

"Yeah." Charlie was on duty that night which left me at home with an empty house.

"Are you gonna give me any hints about what these three dates entail?" I asked as I sipped my coffee. Knowing Jake, he wouldn't reveal anything. A sly grin spread across his face before he replied.

"Nope, I was excited you even said yes," he admitted his cheeks tinted pink. He was ridiculous, of course I would say yes. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Of course I said yes," I said, meeting his gaze.

"It was one of the best surprises of my life," he laughed.

"Good, I'm excited for the next three in my life," I murmured raising my eyebrows as I saw his impish grin reach his lips.

After Jake and I grabbed coffee I drove to Angela's house. Angela told me earlier her brothers along with her parents were away for the weekend. I knocked twice on the old wooden door waiting for her to answer it.

A moment later, Angela opened the door wide. She huffed a few loose hairs escaping from her messy bun away from her face.

"I got your text! Tell me everything," Angela said with a grin as she grabbed my hand to lead me inside. She sat down on a burgundy 'L' shaped couch then patted a space for me to sit down.

"We talked it out and he asked me out on three dates," I replied, placing my hands neatly in my lap as I sat down.

"Come on, more than a sentence. I want a novel," Angela said, rolling her eyes.

"I thought about what you said and I realized he didn't go on dates. I felt so guilty because he could use the time he hangs out with me to do that. I didn't want to stand in his way," I said, elaborating.

Angela waited with baited breath for me to continue.

"And he said he wasn't dating anyone and he wasn't interested in dating," I said. Looking back at that moment, I realized he fumbled with his words then just as much as I did.

"He said he's waiting on one girl, and that girl is me. He asked if I wanted to go on three dates because first dates are awkward as hell and second dates are usually better," I said as I tried to read her expression.

"Three?" Angela asked, knitting her eyebrows together.

"It's his lucky number," I laughed.

"Where were you two? I need to know for my speech at your wedding," Angela said with a wink. My cheeks glowed red in response as I rolled my eyes.

"First beach, I was painting," I answered. She leaned back against the pillows as a smile spread across her lips.

"How are you feeling?" She asked. My focus went back to my hands in my lap. Immediantly the word nervous came to mind. Jake was different and maybe that's what scared me.

I was scared to put myself out there again. Vulnerability was never my strong suit. The feelings I had for Jake were incomparable to any I had before for anyone. The last time I dated someone seriously I was sixteen.

I knew there was a very real possibility I could be in a serious relationship with him.

"I'm kinda nervous," I said as I let out a forced chuckle.

"It's okay to be. First dates are scary especially when it's your best friend," Angela said, touching my hand soothingly.

"He's different, Angela. I haven't been in a serious relationship with someone since I was sixteen," I admitted. Angela's eyes grew soft as she gripped my hand tighter.

"You don't have to think about that right now. Go on that date with an open mind and heart. All you have to think about is if you want to go on another date with him," Angela reminded.

She was right, I often looked at the finish line before I looked at the start line.

"I already have feelings for him, Ang. Isn't that not supposed to happen before a first date?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing together.

"Not necessarily. You've been friends for a while now," she shrugged.

"But still...What if I do something weird? Like have toilet paper stuck on my shoe? Or spill my drink all over my lap? Or trip?" I asked, listing off entirely possible scenarios.

"You're weird, Bella. I love you, but you're weird. Jake knows this and I think he kinda likes it," Angela said with a laugh. The tenseness in my shoulders relaxed at her words.

"I guess so," I nodded my head. I had to let go of my insecurity that ruled my life for so many years; I couldn't blame it exclusively on that alone because I had let it consume me.

"You're blind. These past two semesters at school I've wanted to hit you with a two-by-four so you would see," Angela laughed rolling her eyes. I slapped her playfully in response.

"So what are you wearing? Has he told you where he's taking you?" Angela asked curiously. I pursed my lips before I answered.

"He hasn't told me specifics," I admitted. He was super cryptic about the details because he intended for the dates to be a surprise. Angela huffed before she looked at my phone as if she was questioning to use it. I nodded, raising an eyebrow unsure what her next move was.

She picked up my phone and scrolled for a moment before she found her target. She pressed the speaker button as I read the number on the screen.

"Angela! Why are you calling him?" I asked, my voice shooting up a few octaves.

"He's being an asshat in not giving specifics so if he wants to keep it a surprise from you that's fine. But, in order to get you ready I need to know some parameters," Angela explained.

Jake picked up on the second ring.

"Hey Bells," he greeted his voice warm.

"Hey Jacob, this is Angela, Bella's friend. We're trying to figure out what she should wear for Wednesday," Angela said, cutting straight to the chase. I could feel my cheeks glow with blush.

"Bella will look beautiful no matter what she wears," Jake answered.

"That was cheesy and sweet as hell. I'm gonna transfer you off speaker phone so I can ask you where you're taking her," Angela said as she reached to take the phone off speaker phone.

Angela nodded as Jake told her his plans.

"Awesome, well thanks. Don't screw this up. Bye," Angela said before she ended the call. She scanned me a moment.

"Do you own any dresses?" Angela asked curiously.

"Maybe like two," I answered. Angela raised her eyebrow for a moment before she grabbed my hand. She dragged me up the steps to her bedroom. Sea-green walls greeted me along with pictures covering the walls.

Angela sat me on her bed before she opened her closet door. Rows of dresses colored her closet; she organized them by color. She yanked out many dresses before she turned around.

"You look great in blue, green, and red. Here," she said, handing me dresses.

"Try these on," she said encouraging. I combed through her choices before I disappeared into the bathroom. I put on the first emerald colored wrap dress. The dress itself was simple, which I appreciated. While it hugged my chest to my stomach, it flared out at my waist.

"Bella!" Angela called impatiently. At the sound of her voice, I came out of the bathroom and walked carefully back into her bedroom.

"You look gorgeous, Bella," Angela complimented.

"What do you think?" She asked as I took in the reflection of the girl staring back at me in the mirror.

"It looks good," I murmured.

"Try on another one, but this one is a contender," she commented. I trudged back into the bathroom before zipping myself out of the emerald number and into a cobalt colored dress.

I let a half smile spread across my lips as I realized the strong resemblance to the dress my mother gave me back in Jacksonville. The dress was made out of a tee-shirt material and featured a sweetheart neckline with an empire waist.

The dress made me look like I had more curves than usual.

"Damn," Angela said as soon as I walked out.

"You look great in blue," Angela said, adding on. I felt blush pool in my cheeks at her words. I studied my reflection in the mirror for a moment as Angela waited with baited breath.

I could wear blue, but I was inching towards the green. The green dress was something new and outside my comfort zone.

"Bella?" Angela said, calling me back. I shook myself out of my thoughts as I met her gaze.

"The green one," I murmured.

"I thought for sure it'd be the blue, but the green will be great," she mused. The blue was the safe choice because I wore the color often. However, green was more outside my comfort zone and thus reflected my leap of faith.

"I want to try something new," I said with a smile framing my lips. Angela beamed at me as she registered the weight of my words.

"Oh Bella, I'm so proud of you," Angela said, bounding up from her spot to envelope me in a warm embrace.

The emerald dress contrasted the deep wine colored comforter on my bed. I twisted my hands together as I stared at it while I donned an old white robe. My hair was still damp from my shower.

Angela assured me that the dress would look beautiful on me, but my worries weren't on the dress anymore. Instead, I felt butterflies tremble in my stomach as I realized I was going on a date.

Not just a date, but a date with Jake. Part of me rationalized that he was my best friend. Being with him was as easy as breathing, but as the months went on I grew nervous around him.

The gravity of my feelings stunned me. I took a deep breath before I held up the dress with shaky fingers. I slid the dress on before I paused at the zipper. Closing my eyes I exhaled as I felt the zipper glide up.

Once I was in the dress I examined myself in the mirror. The girl with bright eyes and color in her cheeks again was me. Now I could see what Jake saw and it had nothing to do with the dress.

Instead, I saw the woman with light curious brown eyes and a sky sized heart. As I managed to put a light covering of mascara on my lashes along with a swipe of eye-liner I saw my phone light up.

To: Bella Swan

From: Angela Weber

Send me a pic when you're ready! So excited for you. I'm expecting all the deets afterward.

I beamed before I set my phone back on the counter. My hair cascaded into curls down my back after I dried it with a hair dryer. I caught one last glance at myself before I grabbed a pair of gold sandals from my closet.

Angela reccomended heels, but I wasn't that brave; I knew my limits. A shrill high pitch dinged echoed through the house. Charlie arose from his lounging position in his Lazy boy chair.

"Jacob, it's good to see you," Charlie said, opening the door. I paused at the top of the stairs as I took him in. He wore a dark pair of blue jeans and a gray shirt rolled up to his elbows. Jake gave Charlie a hand shake before he responded.

"Good to see you too, Charlie," Jake said without missing a beat.

"You be good to her, got it?" Charlie said gruffly.

"I will," Jake vowed. I walked the remainder of the stairs as I reached Charlie's side. Jake took a deep breath as he scanned me from head to toe.

"You look beautiful," Jake said, with an impish smile as he presented a bouquet of sunflowers. He remembered my favorite flower. I smiled brightly at him as I reached for a vase.

"Thank you," I murmured, both at his compliment and for the flowers.

"Nice choice," Charlie commented as he glanced at the flowers.

"Thanks, chief," Jake said with a grin.

"Have fun tonight," Charlie said as he eased away from the door. I smiled at him before I closed the door lightly behind me. Jake's gaze met mine as if he'd been zeroed in on me the whole time.

"Hi, beautiful," Jake said, beaming we walked to his car.

"I wasn't expecting flowers. They're beautiful, Jake. Thank you for remembering," I murmured, feeling the butterflies in my stomach starting to do the salsa.

"Sunflowers are very you, Bells. They can grow almost anywhere and wherever they grow, they blossom." Jake said and I could feel my stomach flop at his words.

"Wow, Jake, you're smooth," I said teasingly.

"I hope so," Jake said cheekily.

"So you've been secretive about where we're going," I said as he opened the passenger seat door wide for me. His small gestures made my heart beat staccato in my chest.

"You're not much for surprises are you? Well, I wanted it to be special. I know you could do a hell of a lot better than me, but I want to treat you as you deserve to be treated," Jake answered. My eyebrows furrowed together as I contemplated his words.

"You've been treated like a breakable doll and you're not. You're tiny, that's true but Bella there's a fire in your eyes. A fire that others have tried to dim but it still burns even after buckets of water have been thrown on it," Jake said, as we started driving down Forks' main road. For once, I didn't have the urge to correct him to reject the compliment.

Jake didn't throw around compliments like confetti.

"Heaven help the person who thinks you're a glass doll," Jake said with a chuckle.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, holding back a chuckle.

"You're a tough woman; you're brave, fierce, and most of all kind. You haven't let the world make you hard," Jake admitted.

"That's what I lo-like about you the most," he added, blush heating his tan cheeks as he stumbled through his words. We reached La Push in a matter of minutes. As the car pulled into a parking spot I surveyed around. There was an older diner with plenty of cars around the parking lot.

Before I could open my door, Jake appeared to open the door for me.

"Thank you," I murmured as I grasped onto his large calloused warm hand to help me out of the Rabbit. I was surprised that he settled on walking beside me instead of holding my hand as we walked.

"This is a La Push classic, it's been around for years. I know it's no five-star restuarant but I would stick out like a sore thumb there," Jake chuckled. I laughed at his honesty as I shook my head.

"I'm not cut out for it either, I'm simple," I admitted as he held open the door for me. Instead of a hostess, guests sat themselves. Jake found a fairly secluded two person table with a checkered table cloth.

"I like this place," I said with a smile as I looked around at the cozy woodsy atmosphere around me. There was a small bar in the middle of the restuarant.

"It's one of my favorite places to go," Jake agreed.

"I don't eat out much anymore, but Charlie loves the Diner in Forks. Renee can't cook so I ate out way more in Jacksonville," I commented.

"So who taught you how to cook?" Jake asked curiously. My mind wound back to learning from Grandma Swan. I barely reached the counter so she found me a stepping stool to use as her worn hands kneaded bread dough.

"My Grandma Swan taught me when I was little. I learned a lot after I got tired of eating delivery pizzas," I laughed.

"I bet Charlie is grateful," Jake said as a waitress walked over. She took our drink orders before promptly leaving the table.

"Holidays were always interesting between both houses," I murmured shaking my head.

"When I was little, Charlie and Renee split holidays. The Christmases and Thanksgivings I spent in Forks Charlie relied on take-out from the Diner," I said with a chuckle as the vivid memories of eating mash potatoes and gravy came back.

"Renee?" Jake asked curiously. Before Phil came in the picture, Renee didn't bother with Christmas decorations around the house. Instead, she took me along for last minute gift shopping on Christmas Eve.

"Renee always had grand plans for each holiday, but on Christmas Eve she took me along to go last minute shopping. She told me to close my eyes when she bought my gifts and of course she took advantage of the free wrapping most department stores offered. At the end of our shopping extravaganza she would lay on the couch with a glass of wine and I had hot chocolate as we watched a Hallmark romantic comedy. When Love Actually came out we just watched that every Christmas," I said with a chuckle.

"No kid movies?" Jake asked, raising an eyebrow.

"My mom always said I was a forty year old in a five year old's body," I shrugged.

"I remember when you spent Thanksgivings here, Charlie would always bring you by," Jake said with a grin.

"Which resulted in mudpies," I said as I took a sip of my water.

"You always ended up covered in mud," Jake said with a chuckle.

"Only because you pushed me into it!" I said, reminding him.

"Guilty as charged," Jake said, surrendering. I remembered spending countless hours in Jake's backyard. Rachel and Rebecca were a few years older and primarily kept to themselves.

"Christmases at our house centered on food. We always had a gathering on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, we opened presents and later had another dinner with friends again. Billy always insisted on Christmas day we plant a tree to replace the one we cut down," Jake added.

"Is that a Quileute thing?" I asked as I took a bite out of my dinner.

"Nah, it's Billy thing," Jake said with a chuckle.

"It makes perfect sense," I said.

"Rachel, Rebecca, and I cut down the tree and then on Christmas we planted the new tree together," Jake explained.

"Family bonding," I commented.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. Rebecca always managed to make the bottom of our tree uneven. We made our own ornaments and she always placed them on the left side. Rachel would of course rebel by placing them on the right side. So our tree always had personality," Jake said with a laugh.

I forgot the anxiety and apprehensiveness that pumped through me before the date. Instead, I found myself belly laughing as he told stories about the pack. I noticed that it was almost pitch black outside.

The waitress came by a few moments later.

"Hi, I'm sorry to disturb you, but we are closing in a few minutes," she murmured apologetically.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" I said, covering my mouth in embarrassment. I let out a slew of apologies to the waitress who accepted them. After the waitress left and Jake settled the tab, he led me outside.

"Bella you don't have to apologize for everything. I let time get away from us," Jake said as he led me to the car. A part of me wanted to deny him, but I knew he wasn't criticizing me.

After Jake and I arrived in my driveway, he stopped the car. He came around to open my door in typical gentlemen fashion. I shut the door as I walked alongside him.

"Bella, I want to tell you something," Jake said as we walked up the rickety steps. I nodded as I stopped on the welcome mat.

"Those gears in your head have been turning all night, and I want you to know that I'm nervous. I don't know what the 'etiquette' is about first dates and what you're supposed to do. I can tell you what I know though," Jake said as he gingerly took both my hands in his.

"I like you a lot, Bells. There's nothing you can do to make me feel otherwise. Give me a chance to earn you. Let me show you how a woman deserves to be treated. Heaven knows I'm not perfect," Jake admitted as his dark eyes burned with intensity.

"I want to treat you right and as you deserve to be treated for the incredible and smart woman you are. Let me," he begged, his voice growing softer. The most incredible part was that I believed him.

I felt safe with him. My lips pulled up into a smile as I reached on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck. My whole body shook with nerves, but my voice rang out clearly.

"Yes," I murmured in his ear. He wrapped his strong arms around me as he lifted me off the ground for a moment.

"Thank you," he said with relief and gratitude. After a moment, he let my feet reach the ground.

"Two more dates, huh?" I asked with a chuckle.

"Yeah, and hopefully many more," Jake said cheekily. My heart hammered in my chest in anticipation as he reached down. Is he going to kiss me? His lips found purchase on my cheek.

I never knew my stomach could do somersaults from a kiss on the cheek. However there was a first time for everything. His arms remained wrapped around me as I closed my eyes feeling completely at ease in his arms.

"Goodnight, sweet girl. I'll see you soon," he murmured in my ear.

"Thank you for tonight," I spoke softly.

"Thank you for giving me the honor," he said with an impish smile. He pressed a searing kiss on my forehead as my eyes drifted closed. After a few moments of silence, he cleared his throat.

"If I don't leave now I won't be able to. Goodnight, beautiful," Jake said as he placed one last kiss on my cheek before he pulled away.

"Goodnight," I said, barely managing to get words out. He waved as he walked down the steps before I opened the front door. I leaned up against it, touching the spot on my cheek where his lips were moments ago.

I took a deep breath as I watched in my peripheral vision his car fade away from view.

"So how was it?" Angela asked, her enthusiasm radiating through the phone.

"It was great, actually," I admitted. I always imagined first dates as awkward for everyone. However, with Jake as Angela predicted, there wasn't any room for growing pains or awkward. There were moments where boundaries were muddied.

"We both just had ideas about what a first date is supposed to be like and what is appropriate," I added. Mainly, we were able to have an honest conversation about it instead of ignoring the elephant in the room.

"It's a load of bull crap, the whole fairy tale first date business," Angela said, cutting in.

"I just don't know what to do," I admitted, lying back onto my bed.

"What do you mean?" Angela asked.

"I feel like second dates are harder because you have to let them in more," I responded.

"You two already know so much about each other and he's seen you at your worst. You could show up in sweatpants and he wouldn't care," she reminded. I wasn't worried about what I looked like.

I let Jake in on my life-however vulnerability was never my strength. There was an undeniable pull between us which encouraged me to be vulnerable. I let a half-smirk reach across my lips.

Let her in, Bella.

My breath came out in a whoosh before I answered.

"I'm worried that once he sees the not so great parts about me..." I started.

"Oh please, you're thinking he's a Greek God or something. Do you think anyone likes to be seen scars and all? Bella, there are parts of him that he's not so proud of, too. You're not the only one who pulled a bad card," Angela said, interrupting me.

Angela called me out on my crap and I loved her for it.

"That's true, Ang. Thank you for calling me out," I said with a chuckle.

"That's what I'm here for, Bella. In all seriousness, the jitters and nervousness you feel is so normal, but don't let it consume you. If he doesn't take full stock of who you are and treat you like a queen, find someone else who will. You're strong and enough all by yourself."

Her words struck a chord within me as I let out a deep breath. I was strong and more importantly enough.

I chewed my lip as I stared at the sunflowers soaking up water in the vase. Angela sent me a text earlier letting me know she was coming by the house to drop off a few dresses.

While Jake insisted the dates and details remain a surprise, Angela was privy to the details. She gave advice on what to wear for each date. Angela came around noon to drop off two dresses.

An indigo fit and flare dress along with a crimson fit and flare dress lay on my wrinkled bedspread. Be bold, Bella.

With a huff, I pulled out the red dress. After I put it on, I dashed into the bathroom to apply a light layer of mascara and eyeliner. I peered curiously at the counter top to find a curling iron with a note attached to it.

"Hey girl, try some curls tonight. XOXO, Ang."

I shook my head as I plugged in the curling iron. I managed to curl my hair into ribbon curls cascading down my back. Once I finished, I grabbed a pair of nude colored flats as I walked down the stairs.

My heart pounded in my chest as I heard a knock on the door. I closed my eyes for a moment and let out a deep breath before I reached for the doorknob.

"Bella," Jake said as I opened the door wide. He was handsome in a pair of dark colored jeans and a gray short sleeve shirt. He paused as he studied me, his eyes tracing up and down.

"I'm a lucky man," Jake said with a grin under his breath.

"Hi beautiful girl. It's cheesy as hell, but you took my breath away," Jake said with an impish grin. I let out a giggle as I linked one arm around his neck in an embrace. His warmth radiated through me as I snuggled closer to him. He reached to put a hand tenderly in my hair while the other found purchase on my waist.

"Hi, Jake. You made me blush as red as my dress," I said, teasing him. In response, he smiled hugely as his white teeth shined in the dim glow of the porch light.

"You ready?" Jake asked, holding his arm out for me to hold. I responded in lacing my arm around his.

"Your chariot awaits, m'lady," Jake said with a grin. I let out another laugh as he opened the door for me. He never knew how much those small gestures meant to me. Those doubts and insecurities I discussed on the phone with Angela earlier vanished as I looked at the caring, beautiful man beside me.

What did you think? Isn't Jake the sweetest? And are you ready for date two coming next chapter? Let me know your thoughts by leaving me a review!

Love always,

Princessinblues