Chapter 24

Jake didn't waste much time before calling her cell. "Bella, I'm sorry. I really do have better control over the wolf than that, but... ugh!"

"Yeah, I'm sorry I had to tell you that," she said. "I know it's kind of weird. But everything is weird lately. I mean, the only boys I'm interested in dating aren't even human."

"Hm, I'm going to pretend you're only talking about me and Embry now," he said in a more typical voice. "But you like me better right?"

Bella teased, "Yes, Jacob Black, you are a better friend than Embry."

"Hey, that's not what I meant!"

"Well you know, I haven't seen Embry in a while, I don't know who's cuter anymore."

"Wow, you really know how to make a guy feel special."

"It's a gift," said Bella, feeling a bit better. "Destroying male egos isn't something just any girl can do."

"I think you might be wrong about that," he mused. "But I'll give you the trophy for now."

"Awesome, I could put it with the Worst PMS trophy my dad gave me. Apparently I won it from my mom."

"Ew, do you have to talk about PMS?"

"I happen to be a girl, much like half the population. You don't know how many women at any given time are having their periods anyway," she laughed.

"Actually... Leah's stopped," he said hesitantly.

Bella's heart shuddered. "Since she phased?"

"Yeah. And she looks a lot older and um, more masculine? Well, not like unattractive, but like an Olympic athlete I guess. Like the rest of us I guess," he added. "Sam doesn't care but there's never been a female werewolf before. She's a little paranoid about the uh, not having, you know, since it probably means she can't have kids unless she quits the wolf."

"Which she isn't doing till Sam does."

He exhaled loudly. "Right."

"Wolf drama," Bella tried to joke.

"It's a total soap opera. Jared imprinted on this girl in his class, Kim."

"What does that mean?"

"Ugh, I thought I told you about this?"

"Well, it's sort of like love at first sight, but way more intense. I mean, hell, it's all this magic. It's supposed to be really rare, magical true love, except it's not really love. Jared just doesn't see anything else but Kim now."

"Sounds kind of scary, actually."

"Yeah, but at least Kim kinda had a crush on Jared already. She's thrilled that he's asked her out."

"Wait, wait, so it's totally one-sided?"

"Basically. But I mean, it's hard to imagine a girl turning that kind of devotion down."

Bella hesitated. "Um, Jake? What happened today?"

She didn't want to say it, but he still understood. "I didn't imprint on you Bella, it's just normal ... human... emotions here, hope that's good enough for you," he finally teased.

"Oh, well, I was hoping you'd say I'm the sun and no light exists but for me," she said but her tone fell flat. "Ugh, I'm sorry, Jake."

"Well, I was hoping that seeing me would make you decide if you wanted to go out or not. I guess I had bad timing there," he muttered.

"It wouldn't have mattered either way," Bella said, then thought, did I say that out loud?

"Yeah," he snorted. "Predators have to attract their prey somehow."

"I wasn't even talking about Edward here," she said seriously. "I mean, maybe we would have gone out a couple times, and then - aw, can you come back here Jake?"

The phone hung up, and five minutes later she saw Jake emerge into her back yard wearing nothing but cut-off sweats.

"Um, where are your clothes?" she asked. He was so tall now. She thought his body was attractive before, but the muscle and everything was stretched out another few inches from the last time she'd seen him shirtless. Not quite as sculpted, leaner.

"They don't tend to survive phasing," he explained. "We can wrap these stupid shorts up and tie them to our legs with bungee cords and it works ok, though. I needed to get the bike back anyway." He was now right next to her, and he took her hand in his. His hand was so hot. The opposite of Edward. Well, of course. They were natural enemies, of course everything about them was opposite. She could date Jake and he might imprint. Did vampires imprint? Alice was sort of nuts, but she seemed to have sort of imprinted on Jasper. Although at least that seemed two-way.

"Earth to Bella," laughed Jake, waving his other hand in front of her face. She sighed. She had allowed Edward to hold her hand, and kiss it, so maybe she should let Jake do it too? It was just so weird. She thought of Jake like a brother, although right now, the way he was looking in her eyes, and her quick glances at his chest, reminded her that they really were not related, oh no.

He grinned and put his hand on her head, tilting it up so her eyes were on his. "You were so checking me out." His voice was soft and totally unlike his normal voice.

"Uh, what? I was not. I was thinking. And just looking straight ahead. You're a giant so of course when I look straight ahead at you it's at your chest. Put a shirt on if you don't like it," she babbled.

"I kind of really like it," he said in his normal voice again. "I was wondering if you're any good at kissing, actually." Still in his normal voice. If he'd used that soft voice, Bella knew her jaw would have dropped to the floor.

As it was, she somehow on automatic replied, "I'm good at everything, so probably." But she felt like her mind had left her body.

"Have you?"

"Of course I have, I kissed Tyler Crowley during spin the bottle before Dad came home and figured out what was going on. That was the last time I was grounded," she said. She still felt - floaty.

He gave her his typical grin, which softened into a smile that she rarely saw on him. His other hand went to her face, both hands now holding her jaw, tilting her face up. They were standing right by the back door, and he walked a couple steps down the stairs. "That should work better," he said, and now one of arms was around her waist, but his arm was so long it extended from his elbow up her back, and sort of supporting her, since she still felt floaty, but Jake was secure in his footing, and secure in holding her -

His other hand went into her hair and he said, "I need to kiss you now, Bella, please," but it was that soft voice again, not pleading, just telling her what was going to be happening, but he wanted to make sure she was all right with it, and all she could say was "OK, yeah" and his lips were on hers.

Spin the bottle at 13 with all your friends watching was not like this. His lips were firm and sure but soft and eager, and he didn't try to slip her the tongue like Tyler had, but he did sort of try squeeze her bottom lip between his, then his tongue did slip out against her bottom lip - and when he pulled away she wasn't sure what to think.

She saw in his eyes that he wasn't sure either.

"Um, I'm not trying to be a dick here, but uh..." he floundered for a few seconds, "that was kind of weird."

"No, you're right," she blurted out.

He laughed. Not his normal cock-sure laugh, but a very embarrassed laugh. "Well, shit, you're so hot, I didn't think it'd be like -"

"Like kissing your sister?" she interrupted.

He laughed again, running his fingers through his short hair. "Um yeah. You're not mad, are you?"

"No, it was kind of like that for me too..." she frowned. "Weird."

"Very weird," he agreed. "OK, let us never speak of this again."

"I don't know. I mean, yeah, ok, that's fine." She could feel her blush, now.

"You were right Bells, you're a good kisser," he said hurriedly. "That wasn't why."

She smiled. "Thanks. Same here."

"Well shit," he said again. "Uh, I'm gonna take the bike and go home, ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure," she said.

"You sound like me when you say that." He squeezed her hand and hopped on the bike. He yelled "See ya!" as he started the engine.

Well, that was weird. I should have asked him for Embry's number.

Author's notes: Please review! I respond to every one, and am dying to know what yall think of this chapter.