An Occasion

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you very much to everyone who left reviews on the last chapter.

Chapter Ten-Time With Friends

It ended up being one of the most relaxing and enjoyable birthdays that Bella ever had. As soon as Jacob ran out of the house to greet her, she felt her heart lift and a relieved smile spread across her face. She realised in that moment she really liked Jacob Black. He took her hand companionably while he greeted Charlie.

Bella noticed Charlie's eyebrows rise slightly as he looked at their joined hands, but he wisely refrained from commenting. Billy was waiting for them on the front porch with a wrapped present resting on his lap.

"You didn't need to buy me anything." Bella felt her cheeks turn rosy with embarrassment when Billy handed her the small square box.

"Its your eighteenth." Billy brushed aside her concerns easily.

"Well open it, Bells." Jacob urged her with a laugh as she blinked away the moisture in her eyes.

"K." Bella mumbled as she fumbled with the wrapping paper covering the box. She was suddenly all fingers and thumbs. When she finally managed to open the box, she found a drawstring bag inside, made of some loose-woven, multi-coloured fabric.

"That's really pretty. Thanks, Billy. Thanks, Jake." Bella gushed as she held up the bag so Charlie could see.

"The present is inside the bag, Bella." Billy said in amusement.

"Oh."

Bella had trouble with the strings. Jacob smiled, taking the bag from her, sliding the ties open with one easy tug of the right cord. He urged her to hold out her hand, palm upward. Then he turned the bag upside down and shook something silver into her hand. Metal links clinked quietly against each other.

"Oh my!" Bella gasped in delight. "Guys, this is so beautiful!"

"Some present you give, Billy." Charlie agreed as he leaned over Bella's shoulder to get a closer look.

Resting in her palm was a silver bracelet. Fastened to one of the links was a tiny wooden carving. Bella held it between her fingers to look at it closer. The amount of detail in the little figurine was amazing -the miniature wolf was exquisite and quite realistic looking. It was carved out of some red brown wood, giving it a russet tone.

"How did you know that red is my most favourite colour. This is perfect!" Bella's fingers shook as she tried to fasten the bracelet around her wrist. Once again Jacob had to help her. As the tips of his fingers brushed against the sensitive skin on her wrist, she experienced a strange sensation of warmth. "Thank you, Jacob." She said again, raising her eyes to meet his.

"You're welcome, Bella, honey."

"Jake carved the wolf." Billy revealed with a proud smile. "He's been working on it for a while. He's been obsessed with wolves lately. They both have." He added, giving them both a meaningful glance.

There was a long pause as Jacob and Bella fidgeted uncomfortably. Billy's sly dig had gone right over Charlie's head. He led the way inside, with Billy following on behind. Jacob and Bella lingered in the doorway, both feeling oddly shy around one another.

"You really like it?" Jacob asked, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

"I love it, Jacob. I'm never taking it off."

Jacob's smile was one of happiness growing, much as a spring flower opens. Bella could see how it came from deep inside to light his eyes and spread into every part of him. It was beautiful and quite mesmerising. Bella felt like he had just given her another present – the gift of his smile.

"Um…I suppose we should go inside." Jacob suggested, his dark eyes sparkling with merriment.

"Yeah." Bella agreed, ducking her head slightly to hide the blush that was blossoming on her cheeks again. What was wrong with her? It was just Jacob. Shaking her head in an effort to clear it, she dared to glance his way again. He was still smiling at her with that same warm smile. Effortlessly, without a conscience command to the muscles around her lips, her answering smile spread across her face.

A few hours later, the food was gone, with only a few slices of the chocolate cake left over. Billy and Charlie were dozing in front of the television after consuming a little too much alcohol in celebration of Bella's birthday. Jacob and Bella left them inside the house while they went outside to sit on the porch swing.

It was raining again. Bella sat contentedly next to Jacob as she listened to its sweet serenade on the roof and steady drumming on the windows. From her cosy position she watched the water droplets enrich the sweet brown soil and make glossy every leaf of the nearby trees.

It had been a very strange kind of day, Bella mused to herself. Despite everything, she had enjoyed herself. She was beginning to think it was mostly Jacob. It wasn't just that he was always so happy to see her, or that he didn't watch her out of the corner of his eye like Edward did, waiting for her to make a mistake, or in a vain attempt to read her expression to garner what she was thinking. It was just Jacob himself. He was simply a perpetually happy person, and he carried that happiness around like an aura, sharing it with whoever was near him. Like an earthbound sun, whenever someone was within his gravitational pull, Jacob warmed them. It was natural, a part of who he was. And Bella felt so blessed to be able to share that warmth.

"Thanks for today. I really needed this." Bella said as Jacob rocked the swing a little.

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"I did." Bella turned her head to smile at him. "I definitely did."

Jacob took her hand in his and stared out toward the darkening horizon. "It's getting late." He said reluctantly.

"I guess." Bella sighed. "Charlie and I should head home soon."

Bella felt her throat tighten at the thought of leaving the safety of La Push behind. She had an awful feeling that she might find Edward waiting in her room at home. She wasn't ready to face him again yet. She had been forced to turn her cell off because he kept calling her constantly.

"Are you okay, Bells?" Jacob asked when he caught the pensive expression on her face. "You seem kind of subdued."

Bella felt dejected – a cross between hope and hopelessness. She felt guilty that she had enjoyed herself after causing Edward so much pain. She honestly felt sad for hurting him, but couldn't deny how much freer she felt now the heavy burden of their suffocating relationship had been lifted. And it had been suffocating. It was hard to admit, but Edward's overprotectiveness had slowly been stifling her. It was only when she was hanging around Jacob that it had become apparent just how much he was suppressing her spirit. A few weeks ago, she would never have dared to admit it, but after prom….

"I broke up with Edward."

"What?" Jacob looked startled. "When?"

"This afternoon."

"Oh, Bella, honey." Jacob stretched one long arm across the back of the swing seat and peered down at her face worriedly. "What can I do? Do you want to talk about it? Or not? Tell me what you want to do and we'll do it."

Bella was deeply touched by his attempt to comfort her. It was so rare that anyone asked her what she wanted. "I don't really want to talk about it. Can we just sit here?"

"We can do that." Jacob agreed. "Can I hold your hand again?"

"I'd like that." Bella murmured as she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt his warm fingers curl comfortingly around hers and she relaxed into his side, feeling at peace.

"Huh?" Bella felt herself being shaken gently awake.

"Bells." Jacob's exited voice was close to her ear. "You need to see this."

"What's wrong?" Bella said blearily. She tried to focus her fuzzy gaze in the direction that Jacob was pointing.

Moving into the evening light was the wolf, black as night, fur glossy and thick. His paws kissed the earth with a lightness that was enchanting to see. His piercing gaze held an intensity that stole Bella's breath as she stared back at him. She remained still next to Jacob, worried that if she dared move the wolf would take flight into the trees. She breathed slow and let time slow down, taking photographs with only her eyes, knowing tonight she would dream of being as free as the wolf was, out here with nature, living free.

"I can't believe it." Jacob breathed in awe; his own eyes trained on the ginormous black wolf. "Dad must have sneaked out while we were asleep."

Bella's fingers dug into his as she watched the gigantic black wolf melt back into the trees, his large form becoming one with the shadows. It was too surreal. "Why do you think he changed?" She whispered to Jacob.

"I don't know." Jacob sounded a little frustrated. "I was teasing him about it earlier and he got quite upset. He thought I was mocking him."

"It's a big deal to him, Jake." Bella said. "It's a delicate subject."

"But he won't talk to me about it. I've seen him. So why won't he open up to me?" Jacob sighed.

"It can't be an easy thing to talk about, Jake. Maybe he has no control over when he changes, either." Bella gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Maybe you need to make it clearer that you've accepted the wolf side of him. Maybe he's just afraid."

"You are so good with weird, Bells." Jacob laughed lightly, his dark eyes looking at her affectionately.

"I try." Bella smiled before glancing at the house. "Maybe we should go inside. Charlie could wake up soon…we'll need to cover for Billy when he notices his absence."

"Good idea." Jacob pushed himself onto his feet, pulling Bella with him as he still had hold of her hand. "I'm glad you're here with me, Bella." He said huskily, the expression on his face turning serious.

"Me, too." Bella said, giving his hand another squeeze as he led the way inside the house.

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.