A/N 4Gracie04, As a good looking teenage boy living as normal of a life as he could, before his breakdown. I suspect Jake has had his share of romantic encounters. Leah is just one of them, and though I don't feel like he would be considered a player, I do feel like he would have acted on the opportunities that presented themselves while still remaining respectful to the other party. After his breakdown is a different story. I recently spent some time in Edwards head, it is a vary dark place to be. So dark I don't think I should publish the outtake. I will be spending some time in Jakes head next. I feel stuck with the two stories I have been publishing, I am hoping to find my muse for this one in the outtakes of the other characters and your reviews. Thank you for your review.

Chapter 39

After talking to Charlie, Bella followed Jake back to his room. He shut the door behind her and smacked a button on the old boom box that sat on his dresser. Loud, hard rock; or was it heavy metal, Bella wasn't sure: blasted from the speakers. Jake flopped down on his bed and threw his arm over his eyes. Bella stood there awkwardly, She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to look at the floor, but her eyes kept drifting back to Jacob's prone form. She jumped when she saw him peeking out from under his arm at her.

He sighed and stood to turn down the music. He gently gripped her arm and guided her to sit on the bed, sitting with her he grumbled. "Just ask and get it over with."

She hesitated then said, "It's none of my business."

"Ask anyway, if it's something I don't want to talk about I will tell you."

"You dated Leah."

"That's not a question." Jake told her smiling, but then he responded anyway. "We didn't exactly date."

"But she said you had a romance." Her brows knitted in confusion.

Jake cleared his throat and looked over her shoulder as he talked. "Lee and I were friends, and then one day, we were more than friends." He brought his eyes back to her.

"Why were you both so sure it wouldn't last between you?"

"It was a rebound relationship."

Bella stiffened, "So you just used her to get over your ex?" She asked incredulously.

The corner of his lip twitched. "No, I was the rebound."

"Oh," Her ire quickly turned into embarrassment. "I'm sorry. That must have been very upsetting."

"No, I knew where I stood. She was never going to love me, and I was fine with that."

"Do you love her?"

"Not like that. I care about her. I could even say I love her but, it's not romantic. It never was."

"Then why did you have a romance with her?" In Bella's mind you didn't have a romance unless you wanted a future with that person, the more questions she asked the more she felt like an ignorant child.

"She needed me."

"Like I need you?"

"No," he reached out and took her hand. "this is completely different."

He pulled her to him, pulling her down in the bed, he laid on his back, her head on his shoulder and an arm draped across his stomach. He ran his fingers softly down her arm until he reached her hand then he entwined their fingers.

Looking at their entwined hands he said. "I think we need each other. You make me feel calm, peaceful."

"You make me feel brave and safe."

He lifted their joined hands and kissed the side of hers. Then he turned his head and kissed the top of her head. They laid there comfortably, the crass music softening in their contentment.

They must have drifted to sleep cause the next thing Bella knew Charlie was yelling. "What the hell? I can't deal with this!"

"Charlie," she heard Billy say. "Calm down. You're acting like you walked in on them naked, they don't even have their shoes off."

Bella's eyes opened to find Billy sitting in the doorway, his back to them. She didn't hear her father say anything, but he must have because Billy answered with an, "I know, but I'm sure nothing untoward happened."

"I don't think I ever wanted to see a half clothed blonde girl more in my life." Charlie grumbled.

Jake's arm tightened around her. She looked up into his frowning face. "Sorry," he mouthed. "stay here."

He got up and walked to the door. When he reached it she heard heavy footsteps quickly approaching the room. Billy rolled his chair forward and lifted his hands palms facing out. "Now Charlie. You need to calm down."

The footsteps stopped. "I think it's best if he stays here for a little while." Charlie's voice rose in anger. "At least until he loses the habit of sleeping with my daughter!"

Bella shrunk into herself at his angry tone, tears sprang to her eyes.

"You need to calm down." Jacob said softly.

"You, don't tell me to calm down." Charlie was outraged.

Still speaking evenly, Jake said, "Hasn't she been through enough? The way you are acting will make her worse, not better."

"And how exactly am I acting, oh wise one?" Charlie said sarcastically.

"Irrational, you're lashing out. Probably because you're angry with yourself, and you feel like your whole world is spinning out of control."

"Why the hell would I be angry with myself?"

"Because you couldn't protect her, from any of it."

"When did you become a psychiatrist?"

"I've been to enough of them." Jake smirked softly.

A/N Thank you for reading.