Conversation Hearts (Excerpt from Jacob, Don't!)

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight

Valentine's Day was gonna be here in seven more days. I was in a sticky situation. What should I do about it? Roses were romantic, right? Red? No—the meaning was too obvious. Yellow? Would she see through that?

There was always chocolate—all girls liked chocolate, didn't they? I didn't know if she would accept that either, as stubborn as she was about keeping the boundary lines intact. And what about a card?

I walked over to the general store that Embry's mom owned. I was poking around in the candy section when Quil showed up. We'd both been busy lately, so I hadn't seen him in a few days. Damn him—great timing as usual; he would pick today of all days to see me. I was in no mood for him to be harrassin' me about buyin' somethin' for Bella, so I quickly trotted over to the automotive section, and picked up a floor mat. I pretended to look it over when Quil spotted me.

Quil walked up, with a big grin on his face. "Hey, Jake, how's it goin'? You seeing much of Bella these days?"

"Yeah, we go biking together."

A smirk erupted across his face. "Is that all you're doing together?"

Heeeere we go again. This was gettin' really old. "Quil, I'm not goin' there. Anyway, I gotta go, Billy's waitin' on me at home. I just wanted to price some floor mats. See ya!"

I went outside and hid behind the building, waitin' for him to leave, only to see Seth heading to the store now. Great—Seth was a bigger talker than I was. If he started in yappin' it up with Quil, I'd have a long wait.

Jeez, I was sittin' around on a pile of freakin' cardboard boxes; feeling ridiculous and cowardly. Suppose they saw me out here. I'd be humiliated, and never get to live it down. I was gettin' impatient too, 'cuz it was taking forever for them to leave. What the hell where they doin' in there? It was a good half hour before they left together. When they were no longer in my sight, I snuck back into the store.

I finally decided to get Bella a small box of conversation hearts. The intention would be there, but she couldn't make a big deal about a lousy 50 cent box of candy, or refuse to accept them either.

All the cards I looked at were waaaaaay too mushy, so I bought a pack of colored pencils so I could make one myself. I got home, and stowed the candy and the pencils deep under the socks in my dresser drawer.

Each night before goin' to bed, I worked on Bella's Valentine card. I sketched out a picture of a boy with his heart pounding in his chest. Then I added the words: My heart beats for you. Be Mine.

With the card finished, I slid it back beneath my socks, and hoped that one guy in particular wouldn't find it. One could never be too careful around Quil and ... Embry. I'd almost forgotten, Embry was with Sam. Dammit, now I was all depressed about that situation again. Sigh ...

Valentine's Day rolled around and I ran out of the house with the candy hearts clutched in my hand, as soon as I heard the rumble of her truck. I wanted to see her reaction first before giving her the card, so that stayed buried in my drawer for now.

Bella looked kinda startled, watching me trot toward her. Maybe it was the enormous grin that I couldn't hide.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Bella," I announced cheerfully. I held out my hand, offering her my gift of conversation hearts.

Her confusion lifted, being replaced by a look of ... I don't know what. She gazed at the candy like it was a cobra ready to strike. Once again, Bella left my heart in the dust. I guess my card would stay hidden. Couldn't she at least show a little bit of enthusiasm? Couldn't she fake it just this one time, so I wouldn't feel so let down?

She finally opened her mouth to blurt, "Is it Valentine's Day?"

Geesh, she sure could be out of it sometimes. "Yes, Bella, it is February the fourteenth. And every year on this day, boys and girls give each other somethin' to show they care. So, are you gonna accept my humble excuse for a Valentine present? After all, I scrimped and saved for this little treasure."

One of her eyebrows quirked as she scrutinized my face suspiciously. "What exactly, are you expecting in return, if I take them?"

She really doesn't want to know. Well, we could start with some passionate kissing, then I could haul you off to my little bed and ravish every inch of your luscious body. "Oh, let's see, since you seem to have forgotten all about giving your best friend a measly valentine, you could be my slave for life." Sex slave, more like.

Bella let out a breath, and the tension in her body relaxed. She took the little box from my hand "Okay, well if that's all."

I shook my head. How could she forget Valentine's Day for Pete's sake? I mean, girls went ape over this date, but not Bella apparently. I guess I'll never understand the workings of her freakin' mind. I grabbed her hand. "C'mon, Bells, the Taj is waitin'."

A/N: This will be the last installment for awhile until we get closer to some more HOLIDAYS!