A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story to their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.

Chapter 16-

Bella's POV-

"Leah…"

"Hmm,"

"Leah…"

"Hmm,"

"LEAH!"

"WHAT?"

I gave her a sheepish look, not at all apologetic for my constant interruption. I mean, come on, she had just been applying her favorite baby cherry lip gloss to her lips- admiring how it looked for the millionth time; it was not like she was in the middle of her final year dissertation or something!

And, anyhow, what I had to say was much more important.

Much, much more important.

"What do you think about Jake?"

There. I said it.

No turning back from here.

No matter how much I wanted to, taking the first train out from this dreaded station….

I waited with a bated breath as the expression on her face changed from confusion to annoyance, a severe roll of the eyes accompanying her statement as she went back to admiring herself in the mirror, the conversation obviously not as important to gain her attention and keep it there.

"What about the kid?"

I cringed in response, looking away from her, a sigh leaving my lips.

Of course, I should have expected this. I should have seen this one coming from miles away.

Jake was fifteen. He was a kid in the eyes of people who were Leah's…. or my age. They treated him like a kid, unafraid to say it publicly, a gleam of superiority visible in their eyes as they looked down upon his- still finding their footing- classmates with an awkward gait, braces and acne.

Even though, he was just two or three years younger than us- and ten years down the line, these two or three years would make no difference to anyone's life. But at present, in the bizarre world of high school- gossiping cheerleaders and popular jocks, this age difference felt more like an age gap of a century than a few mere forgettable years.

It was strictly frowned upon to have a good friendship with one of the Freshman, sitting with them for lunch being the business of the entire school, the boundaries drawn from the first day itself, with the cool crowd being much too above in the social ladder to hang out with insecure kids who had not a clue of how to survive in this complicated world- a ritual that every student passed through going through the stages as one grade passed out and other students took that place of coolness in the social ladder.

It was ridiculous, I completely agree.

And I never supported or partook when someone I knew briefly attempted to bully or tease one of the nervous and scared fifteen-year-old, but neither was I brave enough to seclude myself and protest against this unfair childishness.

No.

I was too much a coward to get myself into the focus in that manner. I preferred to hang out in the background, letting who did what with no interference from my side. If it did not affect me, it was not my business, as Charlie had so accurately put it for me all those years ago when I told him some heard gossip at the dinner table, expecting him to show me some minor amount of excitement…. getting quite a lecture in return, unfortunately.

Anyhow, I took that advice to heart, knowing well that the magnificent world of High school with its personal social ladder was considered superficial and utter bullshit outside these four walls, holding no resemblance to how things were in the real world.

And, as you grew older, you became aware of this reality.

But, either way, I was still stuck in the High school phase, mentally thirty-five but physically seventeen, and so, would have to tolerate this nonsense thinking of every fifteen-year-old being an immature kid who stumbled and stuttered and made a fool out of themselves publicly.

Of course, Jake was nothing like that.

He was confident and could hold himself well against anyone and everyone that deemed it their responsibility to make him feel like a stupid kid.

Also, he was extremely tall- taller than lot many seniors that we admired and crushed over, that tall, dark and handsome vibe thick in the air.

He was built, and had a killer smile.

And looks apart, he was intelligent. He could indulge you in a conversation on any topic ranging from the latest movies to politics to history, without once appearing clueless or less knowledgeable than another.

And if that was not enough, he was mature, much more mature than boys his age could even dream of being.

Damn, was it attractive…. Confidence being the most attractive thing on the planet….

"Earth to Bella."

I blushed, embarrassed by my unique ability to zone out during important conservations, shaking my head slightly, silently indicating my mental presence in our current reality.

"Why are you asking about the kid?" she frowned in disgust, as if she had eaten something bad and was now desperately searching for a trash can, wanting to spit it out.

"He is not a kid." I muttered rudely, folding my arms over my chest in defiance.

Did I even have the right to feel offended on his behalf?

He was my friend, so yes, I did have the right.

Also, how demeaning was it to call someone a 'kid' in this manner?

How very rude!

"Whatever," she mumbled, swirling a strand of hair around her finger, getting ready for God only knew which underage party, Charlie and Sue having a date night tonight.

With them going out, Leah would obviously break all limitations and restrictions set upon her, doing as her mind desired. Why did anyone expect anything else from her was beyond my level of comprehension?

She was the stubborn wild card who listened to no one but herself.

Seth, on the other hand, would be watching A-rated movies on the TV tonight, taking this rare opportunity rather seriously, Sue never letting him watch them with the rest of us.

And I…. I have not a clue of what I will be doing tonight with this acquired freedom, but either way, it will in no capacity be rebellious or unexpected.

At best, I will read my book in the living room instead of in my bedroom tonight.

Yes, that's the exact amount of rebelliousness I have in me.

Shocking, isn't it?

"But anyhow," she turned to look at me, her eyes assessing my very being, "Why do you care? Bella," she paused in confusion, tilting her head to the side, "Oh fuck! Did he kiss you? Do you like him or something?" she looked thoroughly panicked by that prospect, her eyes wide as she glared at me. "I knew that the two of you had been spending time together these past few weeks, much to my disbelief, but please, tell me you didn't kiss him back? Yuck. That is so, so gross! I need to bleach my brain." She took her head in her hands.

"Would it really be that bad were I to do so?" I whispered under my breath, not having the courage to mumble it any louder.

"YES." She stubbornly declared. "If you are craving dick, I know a few of Sam's friends who would do you in a heartbeat, surprisingly so, considering you are the most boring person on the planet!"

I looked away.

She did not mean it.

That is just Leah. She often says things without thinking it through first.

Yeah, it is futile to feel bad for what she says.

"I don't want to have sex." I protested; my eyes downcast. "And no, we have not kissed. He likes me, I can't deny that. But we have been nothing but friendly towards one another in these past few weeks."

It had been almost a month since Billy had that first appointment with his new physical therapist based in Port Angeles, and he was pretty satisfied with the results till date. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I drove him down to Port Angeles, dropping him at the clinic before Jake and I hung out at this coffee shop for the next two hours, picking Billy back up and heading home, only to follow the same routine again two days later.

And in this past one month, Jake and I had become even better friends than we had been all our life, if something like that was even possible. We spoke about anything and everything, no social restrictions keeping us apart.

I had started to find a side of Jake I had never noticed before…. and it would be a complete lie to say that he was not making a place in my heart rather too swiftly.

I was scared.

I was truly terrified of these new feelings calling my heart its home.

"Girl," Leah quirked an eyebrow at me, making me gulp. Why had I thought it would be a good idea to come talking to her in this matter, I had no clue? But either way, I regretted it at the moment. "You need a man," She continued, scoffing audibly, "and not some stupid lame boy. Come with me to the party tonight! I will show you what a real man looks like." she finished with a wink.

What no?

I am not going to any party!

That is just not my thing…. right?