"Congraduations!" Mike said, combining congratulations and graduation as Jake and I walked into to the Cullen's party.

"You too, Mike."

Angela and Paul were here with Jessica and Embry but only for a short time. They had a double date at the movies. Angela was excited when she found out that Jessica was in on the secret and if I wasn't with one of them, I was usually with both, along with their wolfy boyfriends.

"Jake, man I didn't know you were coming. I thought…" Embry looked between me and Jake.

"I started getting my memory back and it's mostly good now. Thought what better time to come out of hiding than when I can be myself again?"

Paul hugged Jake in one of those manly clap on the back kind of ways. He was probably coming in close as my best friend since everything started. Leah acted weird around me, and I had no idea why. She was still great, just didn't seem like she was comfortable anymore. I thought maybe it had to do with giving in to Jake, but I wasn't sure.

The party was good. Every single one of the Cullen's looked amazing and they hired a DJ and food services. I couldn't imagine Prom would have been better than this, especially their backyard which looked magical.

When it was over, Jake drove me home. The rabbit seemed a lot more spacious when he was sitting in it to drive than it did when he was fixing it up and he told me he was considering keeping it. I was so happy for him. He worked hard to fix it up.

"Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"Now that we're alone, I was hoping you might tell me what you couldn't say earlier."

"I can't. Not everything."

About 25 minutes after he left my driveway I sent him a text.

/Tonight was amazing. I'm so glad you came./ SEND

DING

"That was fast." I said to my empty bedroom.

/Spending time with you made me realise a couple things. I need to tell you part of what I've been keeping from you, the better half/

/Now that you're home and away from me?/ SEND

DING

/I know… It's harder to speak the words with you right there. So… my wolf wants you, sexually. He specifically keeps saying to fuck you. And I know, I know. We aren't even close to getting back to where we were/

DING

/We need to take things slow which is why I never said it because saying it would just make me want you more than I already do but I don't WANT to want you right now./

DING

/I want to show you that you can trust me. I need to show myself that I can be trusted as well. And I want to show you that there's more to us than just sex. Can we start over?/

/If that's what you need, than sure./ SEND

DING

/Thank you. I love you. I'll see you soon, okay? Let's take this slow. I'm free on Sunday./

/Sunday? Jake it's Monday. That's a whole week away./ SEND

/Slow. Plus I'm busy. Goodnight./

I tried to call Jake but his phone was off. How could he just expect me to wait a whole week? I'd already waited so long, very patiently in fact. I missed him.

/Tuesday/

"Hey, Bella!" Angela called from the opposite side of the street. I was helping my mom unpack. Her new rental was a small one bedroom apartment with 4 units a block away from Angela's parents.

"Hey. How's everything going?"

"Good. I'm headed into Port Angeles in a bit. Meeting Emmie for a lunch date. Maybe we can get together tomorrow?"

"I'd like that." I replied and we went our separate ways. After I helped my mom unpack, I decided to see Jake. I knew he said he was busy but I felt like if he just was upset about everything that happened between us.

When I arrived in La Push, I knocked on the front door and Billy answered.

"Hello, Bella. Feels like it's been forever since you've been to La Push. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I just… I was hoping to see Jake." I gave my kindest smile without looking fake.

"I'm sorry Bella, he's not here. He'll be busy until Sunday. I'm sure he'd love to see you then."

"Busy? Doing what? He's finally back and he can't take one day to see me?"

"He did take one day, Bella. But he got himself a job, and that's all he can take right now. He works Monday to Friday so the fact that he was able to attend your graduation and the party afterwards was something he had to fight for on such little n If they weren't in need at the garage, they never would have allowed that so soon after hiring him. But they know they they need him more than he needs them."

I felt like a jerk, but I was also confused. Why wouldn't Jake tell me he had a job?

"Where is it at?" Had he been coming into Forks and I never even knew?

"A local garage. It isn't too far from here."

"That's awesome and kind of perfect for him… wait, you said Monday to Friday. Why can't I see him Saturday?"

"He asked me to take him fishing. Make up for lost time and take advantage of my new legs." Billy said, smiling and tapping his legs.

"I'm happy for you both. Jake must be thrilled to see you walking." I was happy for them, but I was also sad. I'd recently left my own job in hopes of spending a bit more time with Jake before school goes back in and now he has a job taking up all of his time.

"He is, but you need to understand that to him, he isn't missing any time. He remembers everything from before, and everything since. He remembers waking up and seeing me standing so he didn't get that same feeling you did when you saw me standing for the first time. He kind of eased into it, or well, eased back into himself I suppose."

"Yeah. That must feel weird."

"Listen, Bella. I know you miss him, I'll let him know you stopped by, but please, give him the space he needs to get his head screwed on right. He went through a lot. Both physically and emotionally since the fight. He'll get there but he needs time, and patience."

I knew Billy was right, I also knew I had to be prepared for whatever happened. Yeah, Jake said he wanted to take things slow, but things with us weren't that simple, and I was due for my next Depo shot, so I headed over to see Sue at the clinic. She asked me some questions, gave me the shot and I went on my way.

/Sunday/

My stomach felt like a balloon filled with worms, the excitement and simultaneous nerves made me feel like I could puke.

When I came downstairs, expecting to have breakfast and get my day started, Jake was already there. Charlie was about to head out and Jake had just finished eating some poptarts.

"See ya Bells." Charlie said as he walked out the front door.

"Hey, Jake." I said, knowing that if I didn't speak that my brain might explode from the pressure.

"Hi, Bella." Jake had called me Bella before. It wasn't always Bells or honey or baby, but in that moment, Bella just sounded wrong.

"What did you want to do today?" I asked, reaching for Jake's hand. He pulled his hand away before mine could reach him and I wondered just how slow he needed things to be.

"I thought we could just start here, watch a movie. Talk."

"Sure. Works for me."

And that was what we did. A lot of movies and not so much talking. He refused to meet my gaze, and definitely didn't touch me. My hands missed him more than the more sexual parts. Holding hands with Jake was one of the things I always relied on when it came to my happiness. I guess I was going to have to do without for a bit.