Thanks to all for the lovely reviews I've been receiving! I'm so glad you guys are liked the chapter. I would really appreciate it if you would do the same for this one.

Chapter 25

Jackie had obviously noticed the change in atmosphere between Jacob and me. That's why she grabbed the first opportunity to corner me.

"What happened between you and Jacob? Don't even try to deny it. You guys have been inside your own little bubble all day now."

She's one to talk! I'm surprised she even noticed my absence during lunch. Well, there was no point in hiding it from her now.

"Yesterday, we kissed."

Her joyful squeal made me deaf on one side. She was smiling at me as if Embry had just asked her to marry him and even though that wasn't the case right at this moment, I'm convinced that can happen any day now.

"Finally! I thought he would never pick up the courage to kiss you."

I decided to not tell her it had been me who kissed him first. That way his ego wouldn't get bruised. Even if it really was me...

Jackie was in a happy bliss similar to mine which made me wonder why it meant so much to her. I was too wrapped up in Jacob to give it much thought. The rest of the day passed really quickly and before I knew it, it was time to go home. Jackie was going to give me a ride home but was momentarily glued to Embry's side. It wouldn't have been so bad if Jacob was there as well but he was nowhere to be found. So I was left to stare at the happy couple making out.

"Where is your precious boyfriend now?"

Unfortunately I'd know that awful voice anywhere. Of course Tara wouldn't like to see her precious Jacob taken away by someone else, let alone someone she can't stand. She had come to stand next to me and had once again put on her bitchy face.

"What? You're not going to talk to me now?"

"You're not really worth spending any words on."

Haha, in your face Tara! I was pretty impressed with my cool comeback but she wasn't. Then again I don't think she has a surprised facial expression. I quickly glanced at her. Yep, still the bitchy one.

"You think you're something special now just because Jacob took an interest in you? Please, do you really think he likes you? Do you think he loves you? He says that to all the girls and you're no different. He's just going after you because I told him you were still a virgin."

My breath caught in my throat. Tara's words actually hurt. She always knows just what to say to make me feel like crap but this time she was wrong. I wasn't going to listen to her bad mouthing me and Jacob. He's with me because he likes me for who I am, god knows why but he does. I wasn't going to let Tara or my insecurities ruin this great thing we have going on. I had realised a while back that a lot of girls would try and sabotage me but I wasn't going down without a fight.

"You are such a bitch. Just because Jacob can't stand the sight of you and that destroys the ideal of your future marriage, you have to come between us? Green really isn't your colour, Tara. Could you please do me a favour and burn in hell?"

She didn't get the chance to respond because Embry interfered. He gave Tara the coldest glare I've ever seen on his face and Tara wasn't even trying to hit on Jackie. That's usually the one thing that makes him give people such an awful look. She seemed to be genuinely afraid of him and I can't say I blame her.

"Hey, Erin. Get in the car. We're leaving."

Jackie was acting as if her boyfriend wasn't trying to glare Tara to dead. Instead she pretended as if everything was normal. That doesn't mean I have to.

"What was up with Embry?"

She sighed. Good, that means she isn't going to act as if she doesn't know what I'm talking about.

"When me and Embry started going out, a lot of girls were really aggressive to me because of our relationship. It kind of scared me off and I guess Embry doesn't want that to happen to you and Jacob. He's really glad you guys are going out now."

Once again it seemed as if my relationship with Jacob consisted of four persons instead of two. No matter what we do, Jackie and Embry would always interfere. I know it's with the best intentions but it's kind of getting on my nerves.

I had screamed my lungs out when I came out of the shower and there was a man sitting on my bed. After giving him a proper look, I had realised it was Jacob but he had still scared the shit out of me.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

To make the situation even worse, I was only wearing a towel which I was desperately clutching on to. He seemed to realise I was a bit underdressed because it took some time before his gaze shifted back to my face.

"I wanted to see you."

Okay, that was kind of sweet but at the same time I couldn't help but wonder how he had made it into my bedroom. The front door was locked, as was the back door. My window was open but there's no way he came in through that!

"How did you get in here?"

"Embry told me you got into a fight with Tara."

Changing the subject, as usual. His words made me realise Embry and Jackie really are made for each other! They both can't keep their mouth shut.

"Don't call it a fight. That makes it sound as if we beat the crap out of each other. It was more like a disagreement."

He lifted one eyebrow as if to say he didn't really believe me.

"Well, if you guys ever have a 'disagreement' again, just tell me and I'll take care of it."

"Don't do that!" I snapped at him.

"Do what?"

"Treat me like a little child who can't protect herself."

"When have I ever treated you that way?"

I rolled my eyes. It would be a better question to ask when he hadn't acted like that.

"Is it so wrong that I want to protect you?"

I sighed. What was I supposed to say to that? I kind of liked it that he wanted to take care of me but he was taking the whole thing to a ridiculous level. Not even Embry acts this way around Jackie and he's already bad. Why was I comparing our relationship with theirs anyway?

"What do you think you have to protect me from? There isn't a rapist behind me, is there?"

"Stop messing around!"

Jacob started trembling again which means he's getting angry, again. I have no idea what I said or did to piss him off that way but I had to think of something to calm him down.

"Jacob, I'm not in any danger and even though it's very endearing that you feel the need to protect me, it gets extremely annoying on a daily basis."

I don't know what the actual magic word was in that sentence but it definitely did the trick. His body stopped shaking and he calmed down. He looked me in the eyes and I saw a pained look lingering there. The cause if it was unknown to me but I felt the need to make it go away. Jacob's pain suddenly seemed like my suffering as well and I didn't like the feeling one bit.

"Jacob? Are you alright?"

"Yes, I just... I have a strange request for you."

Is this the part where he tells me he is into kinky stuff? No, that seemed highly unlikely to me. But then why was he talking about a strange request?

"Can I hold you?"

Okay, I did not see that one coming. He seemed to be very serious about his question though and it's not like I would actually mind him holding me. I just didn't know how to take the lead in such a thing and he was simply sitting on my bed, making no move to approach me. I was the one who kissed him the first time and now I have to do this as well! Why can't the guy grow a pair? It would make things so much easier.

I slowly made my way over to the bed and sat down next to him. Before I had to give it anymore thought, he had pulled me into his lap. Yes, into his lap! Such a thing made :me feel very uncomfortable and it only got worse when he sniffed my hair. Total creeper behaviour if you ask me. Even though his arms were tight around me and he seemed to be lost in the fragrance of my shampoo, I slowly became at ease. There was something strangely suiting about being so close to Jacob.

We sat there for hours on end, holding each other without either of us making an attempt to go away. I didn't even realise I was still only wearing a towel. Maybe we would've stayed like this for the entire night, had we not heard the front door open. A quick glance at the clock told me it was my father coming home. It would end quite unfortunate if he were to find me here in Jacob's lap, a boy of who he has made clear not to be fond of. Without really wanting to I started to get away from his embrace. I didn't actually want to do such a thing but my father would come upstairs any moment now.

He let go of me and my heart skipped several beats when I realised he did so reluctantly. Eventually I heard my father coming up to stairs so I turned back to Jacob. When I looked back at my bed, he was gone. Wait, he really did go through my window?

Please, please, please review! I'm sort of having a writers Block and some encouraging would help.