Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight Saga Series. Any recognizable content/characters are the sole property of the great Stephanie Meyer. They belong to her!

CHAPTER TWO

I awoke to the dreaded sound of my alarm screaming at me the next morning. I hit the off button, knowing I had to get up and dragging myself out of bed for the simple fact that I had a shift to work at Newton's today. I would be happy when it was over.

I made my bed with my one good hand and grabbed my clothes, heading into the bathroom to get a shower and dress. I soon changed my bandages and walked downstairs to find Charlie sitting at the kitchen table with his breakfast and mine.

"Hey kiddo." He greeted me, glancing down at my hand and seeing the ace bandage there. He jumped up from his seat, taking my hand carefully in his. "Jeez, Bella! What the hell did you do last night?"

"I had an accident with a plate and the plate got the better of me." I explained, trying to make light of it all.

Charlie knew what a lack of grace I had and he simply chuckled, before visibly doing a once over with his observant gaze. When he saw that I wasn't physically broken anywhere else, he sat back down to eat. "I knew there was a reason your mother and I didn't name you Grace!" He said, before erupting into a fit of laughter. I simply shrugged, well knowing it was true.

"I gotta get going dad. I have to work." I sighed, slipping on my jacket and waving to him, as I grabbed a few strips of bacon from my untouched breakfast on the table. I hoped that it would be just enough to satisfy Charlie. It must have been because he waved back and continued to read the paper without another mention of it.

I made it to Newton's still in one piece and worked my shift. The store was pretty dead, as I listened to Mike chatter on and on all about this new video game he was trying to beat. Thankfully time flew by and I was on the way home before I knew it.

The rain had started to fall on my ride home and I was more than happy to be pulling back in my driveway, just as night was approaching. I turned the key, hearing the engine shut off, surprised to lift my head and see Jacob sitting on my front steps. He smiled at me when he approached, his gaze wandering down to my hand.

"Hey Bells. Hand okay?" He asked with concern.

"Yeah, Charlie thought it was a riot. Once he was convinced I was okay." I laughed in reply with a shake of my head.

The rain continued to fall in a slow mist, wetting our clothes and making Jacob's brown T-shirt cling to him. My eyes fell on his chest and abs. Seeing the muscles well defined and prominent there as the shirt clung to him, revealing every dip and swell of his taut form. I quickly glanced back up to his face, thankful he wasn't paying attention to my shameless gawking.

"I'm glad you're okay. Be careful." He chuckled, teasing evident in his tone as he shifted his weight, taking a step toward me. "Hey, listen I gotta get back home. I have a few jobs in the garage to do but I'll see you soon okay?"

I thought it was really sweet of him to come over here just to see how I was. I nodded and thanked him, watching him as he turned to leave. I suddenly reached for his arm.

"Um hey- Jake I..." I paused, seeing him turn back to me, his warm gaze settling on the hand I had placed on his arm. I removed it slowly, feeling a warm blush go straight to my cheeks. "I was wondering- if you maybe... you wouldn't mind some company?" I didn't want to be home for the rest of the evening by myself and with Charlie gone, and no school work to be done, I'd have way to much time to think. A very dangerous activity for me right now.

Jacob's face lit up immediately in response. "Sure! That is if you're not going to be bored out of your mind watching me fix up a couple of bikes?"

Bikes... speed... a rush and reckless. This would be good, in more ways than one. I nodded enthusiastically at Jacob. "Yes- I mean no! No I wouldn't be bored. It could be fun."

"Okay! Come on."

We drove to his house in my truck and went straight to the garage. There was an abundance of tools everywhere and two bikes resting on their kickstands were in the center of the disheveled mess. Jacob strolled up to one, grabbing his tools eagerly to get busy. "They're pretty much scrap metal but I think I might be able to make them run again, maybe sell them. I don't know."

I sat down next to him, intently watching as he worked fast with his strong hands, loosening tight bolts and ripping the bike apart effortlessly.

"Do you have to sell them? I mean- I'd like to buy one!"

Jacob looked at me like I had lost my damn mind, a smile slowly coming to his face."Bells- What!... really?"

"What? A girl can't like to ride?" I scoffed in reply.

That certainly got his attention.

"You really want to?"

I thought of the movie in Port Angeles and what had happened when I climbed on the back of that man's bike, nearly giving Jessica a heart attack in the street. I nodded enthusiastically at Jacob. "Yeah, Would you teach me?"

"Absolutely!" He replied, with a beaming grin.

We sat there for the remainder of the night, talking and laughing together, and sharing a small pizza and a few coke's. I was stunned to find the ache in my chest was less painful when I was around Jacob. I couldn't remember the last time I hadn't felt a sharp ache in my chest, or my stomach. It was nice, an unexpected and comforting change.

Jacob and I spent the next three weeks working on the Bike's in his garage. Whatever spare moment we had, we would meet at his place, and spend hours listening to music, laughing, remembering, while Jake taught me the basics of a bike. The fundamentals like how to change a tire and do an oil change in case I ever needed to do one, which he assured me would never be the case as long as he was around. I smiled brightly at him, at the thought of him always being around. The mere thought sent warmth through me. Each day that passed, the whole in my chest would get a little bit better. The rawness of it fading. The ache getting somehow more managable for me.

On one particular afternoon, Jacob was just finishing up the last few touches on the second bike when we heard the sound of many footsteps coming into the garage. I grabbed my bag, ready to run, thinking it could be Billy. Jacob placed a hand on mine, bringing me up short before I could bolt.

"No, it's okay. It's just my boys."

I heard them come barging into the garage in fits of laughter about something as they entered.

"Hey guys-" Jacob casually greeted them.

They stopped dead in their tracks, and all laughter faded upon seeing me there. I recognized Quil right off.

The two tall and dark haired boys, both big, but not as muscular as Jacob, greeted me first.

"Hey ... Bella right?" The shorter one on the right said to me, whose name I was unsure of.

I stood up and shook his offered hand with a smile."Yeah, that's me"

Quil stood about three inches taller and moved quickly past the first to greet me in his own eager way. He embraced me in a full on hug, catching me entirely off guard. Jacob stood up, rather quickly and in defensive response.

"Quil! Hey ease up man." He said to him in a joking tone, but I caught the seriousness in his dark gaze.

Quil let me go with a chuckle. "Awe, come on bro, I'm just being friendly. Sorry I didn't get a chance to say hi at the movie the other day."

I simply nodded in reply to him.

"Bella, you remember Quil. And this is Embry?" Jacob asked, with an amused grin on his face.

I was mildly aware that I was standing amidst brothers. Blood not needed. There was an aura around all of them. One that easily could be seen and felt. Something that was almost tangible when around all of them. Jacob smiled at me and went back to working on the last few bolts of the second bike as Embry gave me a sincere smile of his own.

"So, you're together now? I think it's great." He suddenly said, grabbing a warm soda off Jake's work bench.

I felt the breath catch in my throat and a rapid blush spread to my cheeks. Jacob dropped the wrench he had in his hands and it made a loud clattering sound when it hit the cement floor. He looked nervously to me than to Embry before speaking.

Uh- No... if you remember correctly, which obviously you don't, you'd remember that I said she was a girl and a friend. Not girlfriend." He quickly clarified.

Quil burst out laughing, while punching Jake playfully in the arm. "Yeah okay! Sure bro! Embry do you remember him saying that?" He teased.

Embry shook his head in response. "Nope!" They both laughed and Jake just rolled his eyes with a cocky smile playing on his lips.

I shook my head, feeling I should at least defend him a bit.

"So-" I chimed in."You guys have actual girlfriends. That's great!"

I heard Jacob erupt into a fit of laughter, the warm sound of it now filling the garage. Embry and Quil stopped laughing almost immediately, shooting an appalled look at me and then to each other.

"Yeah right! Embry here took his cousin to prom last year!" Jacob said, in between his fits of laughter. I couldn't help but laugh right along with him.

"Oh yeah, Black? You think that's funny?" Embry replied, ramming into Jake and pushing him playfully backwards. Jacob dropped the wrench again and gave it right back to him. They grabbed each other, taking playful jabs at one another across the garage. I sat there watching in amazement at Jake's strength.

Quil plopped down beside me and chuckled. "I got ten bucks on Embry." I shot him a side glance before my eyes fell back on Jacob... no way. I knew Jacob would surely take him with little effort.

"You're so on." I replied to him, more than confident I would win that small bet and I did. They soon left, saying there goodbye's to me, and asking me to come to a bonfire on the rez this weekend. I thought about how I had no plans and considered it, seeing them wave as they exited the garage.

Jake finished the last bolt, and smiled brightly at me. "Done!" He said, as I peered outside, knowing we had a few more hours before it was dark.

"Let's go!" I replied, with clear excitement in my voice as I pulled him by the arm.

I was eager to start my truck, as Jacob brought the bike's out and loaded them one by one, with next to no effort, into the cab. I was still watching him as he lifted the second one. He was ridiculously strong and that would be putting it lightly, a dull comparison at best.

"Ready!?" I asked, feeling the rush of adventure course through me.

"Are you sure?" He asked, a bit of worry in his voice. I knew he was thinking that it may not be such a great idea to mix speed with my clumsiness, but I had confidence I could learn just fine. Besides it was reckless and I knew I would hear the angelic, velvet voice again that I so craved to hear once more.

I was well aware that this made me officially crazy.

"Yes! More than Sure!" I said, jumping in the driver side and eagerly waiting for him to join me.

"Charlie would kill me if he knew!"

"That's why he won't find out."

I drove fast to a side road in La push that Jacob gave me directions to. We were there in only 20 minutes. Jacob thought that it would be the safest place to learn and well out of the way of anyone who may see us, and report it back to my dad or Billy.

I cut the engine off and looked over his way, noticing the the guarded expression he wore.

"Ready?" I asked, wondering what was on his mind that would have caused his mood to change so suddenly.

Jacob stared out the passenger side window, appearing to be lost in thought.

"Yeah..."

Something was clearly bothering him. After a few long seconds of complete silence, no sound in the truck but our breathing and the wind outside. He spoke again."You know-If I had been smarter, maybe I would've drug out the rebuild of these bike's a bit."

My heart sank as I realized where he was going with this. I glanced over at him, seeing the sadness there and desperately seeking to erase it from him. "Well..." I sighed with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "With as clumsy as I am, it could take a few weeks for me to learn how to ride."

Warmth spread through me when I saw the big white smile return to his face. Smiling so wide, his dimples showed. Another one of my favorite feature's on his face. The one of many.

I jumped out of the truck and waited anxiously for him to unload the bikes. Jacob lifted them easily out of the back and set them on the ground. The dirt road ahead of us was long and winding. Free of any traffic. It was an off the beaten path kind of road and very secluded... perfect for riding.

I zipped up my coat a little further, feeling the wind start to blow again.

"Okay Bella... climb on." Jacob Instructed.

I was excited to learn but more excited to hear that velvet voice again.

I mounted the bike as Jake stood in front of me and guided my hands to the handle bars, his strong hands coming to rest on top of mine. A shiver ran through me at his warmth and I found myself yearning to bask in it.

"This is the brake." Jacob explained, gently squeezing my left hand. "And the clutch." He continued, eyes on mine, squeezing my right hand. "And the Gas..." He finally said, looking at me to be sure I understood. I nodded excitedly at him, as he released my hands and took a step back. I hit the gas, hearing the engine roar to life and rev with fire beneath me. It was exhilarating.

I closed my eyes, soaking it all in.

"Okay now, take it easy, Bells." Jacob hedged in warning, while watching my every move very intently. I did as he said, slowly opening my eyes and felt the bike lurch forward and then stall as a heavenly voice, purely angelic, came to me. I was startled for a moment. The voice fading as soon as the bike stalled again. Desperately wanting to hear it again, like an addict looking for a fix, I started the bike once more, remembering Jake's words. The bike roared beneath me and I gave it the gas, a little too much. The bike lurched forward again and this time it took off.

"Bella! Be careful!" I heard Jacob yell as I sped off down the winding dirt road ahead.

The tree's flew past me in a rushing blur and that's when I saw him. He stood ahead of me, in perfect form and in mesmerizing grace. I lost my concentration then and felt the bike slip under me. I tried to swerve and ended up over correcting. The bike slid sideways, causing me to lose all control and crash into a small tree. The impact threw me from the bike and head first into a large rock.

I laid there, staring up at the grey sky swirling above me and heard another motor steadily approaching. I closed my eyes and listened as Jacob skidded his own bike to a sudden stop beside me.

"Bella!"

I slowly lifted myself up, leaning back against the large rock behind me. "I wanna go again. I'm sure I'll get it this time" I said to Jake, desperately trying to get to my feet and longing to hear that velvet voice just one more time.

Jacob placed his hand on my arms, holding me firmly in place. "No... No way Bells. Are you trying to get yourself killed? No- No more bike's." He replied, with a bit of tense panic in his tone, as he searched me over with his dark eyes, seeming to look for anymore injuries.

I was dizzy, really dizzy, with a massive headache all of a sudden. Jake kept his hands on my arms, looking me over still.

"Oh man- your head." He soon sighed.

I felt something warm and wet start to trickle down my forehead. I reached up to feel it and pulled back a bloody hand. My stomach churned at the sight of it. "Ow... Oh, Jake I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for? For bleeding?" He asked me, clearly confused.

I thought about it. I was so used to always being sorry for any blood spill. It came so natural for me to apologize without even thinking twice about it.

"Yeah, I guess that I am." I replied, looking up at him as he smiled at me, shaking his head.

"It's just a little blood, Bells. It's really no big deal" He replied, standing up and ripping a piece of his flannel off. He quickly crouched back down beside me and pressed it to the gash on my forehead. "Can you stand, honey?"

"I'm not sure." I replied, touching the gash again and feeling the blood had stopped for now. Jacob reached for me, helping me to my feet. I leaned against him, feeling light headed and a bit disoriented.

He helped me to the truck and quickly loaded the bike's in the back, before driving me home. Luckily the gash was minor enough not to need stitches. That would have been really embarrassing to be the girl who need stitches twice in less than a months time. My hand was almost healed, didn't need to add another injury to the list.

I thought of the voice as we drove back to my house, his voice and sudden cold ripped it's way through me. It settled into my bones, making me feel as though I would shiver forever.

"Come here, Bells..." Jacob hedged from beside me, his hand coming to rest on my leg.

I didn't hesitate. I scooted over into the middle of my truck and leaned into him, wrapping one arm around his and placing my head on his shoulder. The heat from him flooded through me, erasing the cold. He was a comfort to me, without speaking. Just being with him was enough.

We soon reached my house and I was thankful to see that Charlie had not returned home from work yet. I would have enough time to take a quick shower and clean up. Surely, I would have some explaining to do if he saw me this dirty and with a nasty gash on my forehead. I hastily walked inside and Jacob lingered behind a bit as he stood in my doorway looking at me.

"You have to go?" I asked him, secretly hoping he would stay.

"No- ...Do you want -" He started to reply

"No-" I quickly interjected, noting the desperate panic that had leaked into my voice.

He crossed the threshold in a few long strides and closed the door behind him. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed for my lack of grace today. Not that it should have surprised me. I dropped my gaze to the floor, feeling a gush of embarassment as my blush surely gave me away.

"Um- I think I'll run home real quick and shower and I need a new shirt." He said with a chuckle.

"Okay, I'll be here." I replied softly, my heart racing as Jacob took a few steps toward me, reaching up and gently grazing his fingertips under the gash. "Sure you're alright for a bit?"

It touched me that he was concerned. Although it shouldn't and didn't come as any surprise. That was Jacob. Just Jacob.

"Yeah, I should be. I'll see you in a bit."

"Okay." He said with a small smile and was out the door in the next second. I stood there alone in the kitchen thinking of the bikes and that voice... his voice.

The razors tore open my heart as I clutched my stomach, gripping the table for support. I forced myself to stand up straight again, dragging myself up the stairs and into the bathroom. I gathered some clothes from the dryer and hurriedly chose something to change into. When I was finished showering, I dressed and looked at my reflection in the mirror, closely examining the small gash. It was not that bad. About half an inch long and not very deep at all. More of a surface wound if you ask me. I had certainly experienced much worse before.

I headed down stairs and started on making dinner. Spaghetti was on the menu tonight and I made some extra hoping that maybe Jacob would stay. The heat from the oven and stove felt nice. Though I couldn't seem to get warm enough. I sighed, stirring the spaghetti as it cooked in the boiling water. Maybe I would never be warm ... or whole... again. I swallowed hard, not wanting to cry anymore, but the silent tears came anyway, one by one Slowing running down my face. I wiped them away as fast as they came.

I was so deep in thought that I hadn't even heard Jake come in. I startled a bit when I turned around to get the spaghetti sauce from the pantry and saw him standing there. He was casually leaning against the counter with his perfect smile on, though it quickly vanished when his eyes met mine.

I hurriedly wiped my tears again, trying to ignore his look of worry, as I grabbed the spaghetti sauce and went back to work on dinner. I didn't dare to look at him, because I knew the worry and concern I would surely see in his dark gaze. I placed the cover on the sauce pan and slowly turned back around to face him.

I tried to act as though all was fine. Something I was great at with everyone lately... except Jacob.

"So- that was pretty fast, I'm sorry about the bike and your shirt."

"I don't care about the bike or the shirt. They're material. They can be replaced and other things like you, can't be, Bells." He looked into my eyes with each word he spoke, conveying the truth in them. I nodded, swallowing hard at the lump in my throat. "Bells, I can't help you if you don't talk to me." He softly continued, bringing his head up to meet my gaze.

In that moment, I wanted to surrender it all to him. Tell him everything. Maybe I couldn't tell him all, but I could at least tell him some. I bit my lip, holding his eyes with mine and feeling the stabbing pain come back as I thought about everything I wanted to say.

Jacob's hands came to rest on my arms, rubbing them as he felt me shiver. His eyes were pleading with me. I had to tell him something... anything. I owed him at least that much.

"I'm..." I started, feeling the tears again."-never gonna be okay and I should be fair to you, Jake.

Even saying the words felt like someone was cutting me from the inside out. Ripping me to shreds and leaving me that way. I looked down, hating how I felt.

"Bella, I know what he did to you, but I would never do that. I won't ever hurt you. I promise."

"Come here." He whispered to me, wrapping me in one of his warm hugs. I savored the feel of being in his arms.

After a while, I heard Charlie's cruiser pull in and I pulled away from him. He gave me half a smile and released me just as Charlie came in. I spun around, quickly wiping away any evidence of tears on my face, while I stirred the spaghetti. Charlie greeted Jacob with a friendly hand shake.

"Hey Jake. How are ya, Son?"

I looked over my shoulder to see Jacob smile and nod in reply at Charlie.

"Pretty Good and you?"

They made small talk until I handed a plate full of spaghetti and meatballs to Charlie. He smiled and thanked me, giving me a small kiss on the cheek, before sitting down happily in his recliner and flipping on the sports channel. I looked over nervously at Jacob and quickly fixed him a large plate as well.

"I was hoping you would stay." I softly admitted, handing it to him. Jacob's face lit up with the light that I had come to love to see as he took it from me.

"I'd love to. Thanks, Bells."

Jacob and charlie ate in the living room, going on and on about the Mariner's losing streek this year. I wasn't hungry and hoped they would just eat and not notice. I washed the dishes and started to dry them when Jacob came back in the kitchen, taking the towel and dinner plate from my hands I'd been drying.

"You're not gonna eat?" He asked me, with a clear look of dissaproval on his handsome face.

I shook my head. "No, I'm just not hungry."

Jacob nodded and continued drying the dishes.

"You don't have to do that."

"I know I don't have to. I want to." He replied to me with a wink.

I sat down at the table and noted the time. It was nearly 9 p.m. already. My heart sank at the thought of trying to get some sleep. I knew all too well what my dreams held for me. I looked down at my hands placed in my lap, listening to Jake put the dishes away. He soon finished and knelt down in front of me, placing his hands on my knees.

"I better get going, Bells." He soon admitted.

I didn't want him to go. But I couldn't bring myself to admit it, either.

"Okay." I sighed to him.

Jacob saw the hesitation and quickly back peddled.

"Well, I could stay for a bit longer if you want." He offered. And I did.I wanted him with me. Guilt crushed me, because I knew It wasn't for the same reason as he wanted to be with me.

"Please?" I asked. My own voice sounding odd to me, like I was being strangled, which lately, is exactly how I felt.

Jacob smiled up at me with a nod. "Yeah sure, Bella."

I was happy to know he would be here for a bit longer but the guilt was weighing heavy on me. I looked into the living room and saw that Charlie was already passed out. I rinsed off his plate and put it in the sink, glancing over at Jacob who was reading something in the paper intently. I watched him closely, seeing the way his face was pretty damn near perfect. A slight rush of heat went to my cheeks, and I shook my head as I sat down at the table with him, seeing him reading the sports section with vivid interest. I laughed, causing him to glance up at me.

"What?" He smiled.

"Nothing, it's just funny. You guys and your sports... that's all."

Jacob laughed with me at this."Well... I guess it's no different than you ladies and your chick flicks really!"

I nodded, knowing he had a great point there. Jacob had willingly suffered through many chick flicks, just to make me happy.

I yawned, feeling tired but knowing I wouldn't get any sleep tonight. I no longer could remember what a full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep felt like. It had been months for me.

Jacob set the paper off to the side and stood up, nodding toward the stairs. "You look beat, Bells."

I truly was. Maybe this was one of the small parts I could tell him.

"I am, but I won't get much sleep." I admitted.

I wasn't sure how much Jacob had overheard in the past several weeks, whenever Charlie would vent to Billy. Maybe he didn't know about my night terrors. I glanced up at him, seeing his look of concern.

"Why's that?" He asked.

If he did know, he was at least having enough class not to show it.

"I dream a lot. Not really dreams. More like nightmares. Horrible- wake up in the middle of the night several times, kind of nightmares."

"What are they about." He asked, further approaching me as I stood.

I felt my throat constrict a bit at his question, as I shook my head."I... can't... remember. Some of them I can." I lied to him, shamefully.

"I'm sorry, Bells. That sounds awful."

It was... Little did he know the depth of them.

"Yeah it is-" My voice went shaky on the last word, giving me away a bit. I cleared my throat and tried to give Jake a small reassuring smile.

"Bells, I can stay if you want me to. Till you fall asleep." He offered with sincerity.

The thought of him being here with me was beyond comforting and extremely selfish. Another pang of guilt washed over me as I looked up at him, seeing that maybe he wanted to stay just as much as I wanted him to stay. Maybe... it wasn't so selfish.

"Okay." I replied to him, seeing him smile. "But you should call Billy, right?"

"Yeah" He said, as I handed him the phone.

"I'll be upstairs."

I slowly headed up the stairs to my room, thinking the whole way up about how comforting it would be to have him there with me, and also how wrong it was to use him like that.

I sat down on the edge of my bed, looking out the window and seeing the tree's sway back and forth from the wind. The moons glow casting shadows on my wall. I stared at them long and hard, remembering the last time I had anyone in my room like this. Pain shot through my chest, so much of it, that I swore I felt my actual heart rip into shreds. I gasped, sitting down on the floor by my bed, withdrawing into myself as I pulled my knee's to my chest. Jacob tapped on the door as I forced myself to get to my feet and open it for him. I needed to pull it together. I took one long, shaky breath and opened the door.

He took one look at me and deep concern flashed across his face. I turned around, folding my arms across my chest, not wanting him to see me like that.

I felt ashamed as I stared blankly out the window into the night, hearing Jake's footsteps behind me, until they stopped when he reached me. I stood there, feeling as though I may just lose it right here in front of him. I had been doing this now for far too long. I could put up a good front to everyone else, even fooling Charlie a few times but not with Jacob. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't... I just couldn't.

My head started to spin as I felt the weight of everything come crashing down on me, like a water dam had been released. I placed a shaky hand on my chest, feeling the weight of it there. The heaviness almost being too much for me to bare. Tears ran unabated down my face with no end in sight.

No... I though to myself... No... No... Not now.
Not with Jake here. I pleaded with my heart to stop, begging it in my head, to stuff it all back in. But It didn't listen.

Jacob, ever so slowly, placed his warm hands on my shoulders and ran them down my arms. I could hear his breathing, slow and steady. A comfort all in it's own. Unlike mine, which was shaky and uneven.

His hands stayed on my arms as he took one last step to me, pressing his chest to my back. I felt my heart rip again at all I had been through as Jacob slowly wrapped his strong arms around my waist, pulling me back into him. I froze momentarily, my body going rigid with fear of letting this all go. Knowing how much it could hurt.

I felt Jacob lean into me, placing his chin on my shoulder. He gave me a reassuring squeeze in his arms. "It's okay, Bells." He whispered with his warm words.

I swallowed so hard, fighting it with all of me, feeling like I was choking or being strangled.

"No." I whispered to him, brokenly. "No-No, it's not-It's never going to be okay."

I broke, feeling my whole body shake at my words. Jacob pressed his cheek to mine as my tears ran down my face. He didn't speak. His arms tightened around me, as I shook like a leaf in them. Feeling like I was drowning, with no way to get to the surface for air. Jacob pulled me backwards, and sat down on the bed with me in his lap. I tried to fight it again, not him... just the feeling. I tried to pull away from Jacob, but he held me there, not forcefully, never forcefully.

"Bells..." He breathed. "Don't- Please don't push me away".

There was an earnest plea in his tone that I couldn't ignore and I stopped fighting almost instantly. I nestled my face into his neck, breathing him in and let the sobs take me.

He never asked me any questions. He didn't push anything. He just held me. It had been exactly what I had needed. I felt his hand rub up and down soothingly on my back as I cried. Several minutes passed and my tears finally subsided a bit. I kept my face in his neck, not wanting to lose the feel of his warmth or his closeness.

After a few more minutes had passed, I finally lifted my head, shame coming to me for falling apart like that.

"I'm sorry." I whispered to him, barely able to speak yet. Jacob brought a hand up, wiping away my tears with his fingertips.

"Don't be, Bells. Don't be." He replied to me in a soft whisper and a shake of his head.

"You better get headed, huh?" I soon asked, taking note of the time.

Jacob glanced at the clock, seeing my concern. "I'm okay. I'll figure it out, Bells. Don't worry about it."

I didn't want to get him in any hot water with Billy, and possibly make him think I was a bad influence on his only son.

"But-I started to protest.

"Bella..." He replied., raising one eyebrow with the hint of a smile forming on his lips.

I knew I wouldn't win the argument and gladly forfeited, glancing down at Jacob's hand that rested comfortably on my leg, thinking of how at ease I was with him. We sat there together in content silence for a long time before Jacob broke it.

"It's not true, you know?" He stated to me.

He saw the question in my eyes, and clarified for me. "What you said before... that you'll never be okay. It's not true, Bells... it's not." His warm hand came up to touch my face. I leaned into his touch as he caressed my cheek lightly with his thumb. "I won't let that happen." He whispered. "I won't."

I heard the determination in his voice, the sound of it forcing me to meet his gaze. I knew with one look that he meant it. Every word. I nodded slowly at him, finding it hard to keep his stare. A warmth starting to grow within me from it.

His eyes were the most deep shade of brown I'd ever seen. They had a unique depth and shade to them. One that sucked you in, stole your breath and left you speechless. Jacob of course, was entirely oblivious to this and many of his other charms.

"You're kind of amazing you know?" The words left me before I could stop them.

"Sure. Sure..." He chuckled, looking down into my lap."And... you're kind of awesome... You know. Ah ... there it is-" He touched my cheek with my smile that turned quickly into a blush. My cell phone rang on my nightstand then, jumping us both and Jacob let out a frustrated sigh. "That'll be Dad."

I quickly answered it and heard a welcoming tone on the other end. "Hi, Bella... is my boy with you?" Billy asked, with a laugh, well knowing the answer already.

"Yeah- Billy he's right here. He's just heading out now." I replied, glancing over to see Jacob roll his eyes and laugh.

"Okay then. Thank you. Good night, Dear." He said to me warmly.

"Okay. Good night Billy, and uh... thank you."

I quickly ended the call and glanced up at Jake, seeing him stand up and approach me slowly. "You're okay though, right? " He looked at me intensely, like he was checking me over once more before he left.

"Yes... thank you, Jake. For everything."

"Anytime Bells. Day or night, okay?"

I nodded, knowing he was giving me an open invitation to call on him whenever. Which I was more than thankful for. He smiled and winked at me. Making me blush yet again for the tenth time tonight.

He gave me one of his warm hugs before turning to head home, only to stop short before he closed the bedroom door. I turned back around, thinking he had forgotten something.

''Bella?" He started "Um- I was wondering if you were busy Friday night?"

My heart leapt into my throat at his simple question. Jake's dimpled smile not helping in the least to calm the raging butterflies now coursing heavily through my stomach.

"Yeah, I'm free... why?" I managed to reply.

"Well, I was thinking if you're not busy... you wanna come to the bonfire with me. It would mean a lot if you came?" He asked me with a small blush creeping up on his handsome face. I couldn't help but smile at him, seeing his bright, dimpled grin in return. His whole face lit up.

I definitely could use a night out, one with less drama then the last outing.

"Yes- Yeah, Jake that sounds great. What time do you want me there?"

He flashed me his white smile. "No, honey. I'll come get you." He kindly insisted. "Say around... Seven?"

I nodded, "Okay, should I bring anything?"

"Nope. Just yourself please."

"Okay Good night, Jake."

"Night, Bells." He replied, lingering there for a minute, before smiling at me once more and closing the door behind him.

I smiled as I heard his Rabbit start, watching him drive away through my window and missing him almost immediately. I soon shut off my lamp and climbed into bed, dreading what awaited me, not wanting to face my nightmare's but knowing full well I had to. I closed my eyes and reluctantly let sleep take me.

A/N: Thank you for taking the time to read this fic. Please review! :-)