Chapter six: Reunion

After a few moments Charlie knocked on my door and said it was time to leave. I hugged Edward one last time before he left out the window. A minute later my new cell phone rang, but it was a text message. It was from Edward, it said, 'Be careful love. I will see you when you return home.' I smiled responded that I couldn't wait. I was finishing up my message when I walked in front of Charlie.

"Bella when did you get a cell phone?"

"Oh I didn't buy it Edward did," I tried to make it seem like no big deal, but apparently it was.

"Why did he feel the need to buy you a cell phone? You two are always together." He seemed a bit aggravated.

"Dad it's just a phone." I said walking past him out the door.

"Yeah well I don't want to see you on it today okay? We are going to spend time together and that does not include you sending him little love notes." He grunted, I could have laughed, but thought it wasn't best. I hopped into the cruiser and we took off. As we drove I looked out the window. I could remember when I did not like all the green, but considering that mine and Edward's spot was a meadow I grew to love it. Most of the drive was silent except for the occasional question from Charlie about Alice or any of my other "friends". After another long silence we finally arrived…at Billy's house. I groaned to my father, "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" he asked trying to act like he had no idea what I was talking about. I got out of the cruiser and when I looked at the front door there he was. I stopped; I didn't know if I should keep moving forward or go back. His face was blank and I could not tell what he was feeling. I quickly looked down I did not want to keep staring at him. I twined my fingers behind me and began kicking rocks. I did not know what else to do. I didn't even know what to say. "Hello Bella," I heard but it was from Billy. I looked up gave him the best smile I could give him, "Hello Billy."

"It's been a while."

"Yes a little bit," I looked at Jacob. He was still staring at me with a blank face.

"Why don't you two go for a walk, me and Charlie are going to be watching the game." I looked at Billy with a bit of surprise and Jacob looked at him the same. Could have both our fathers really planned this so that we had no idea? I guess they could still surprise us though we thought we knew them well. I knew Jacob didn't like the idea of us being alone together. I figured I could take a walk though, "Its okay Jake you don't have to if you don't want to," his face sprang back to meet mine and I gave him a half smile. "Billy can you tell Charlie that I will be at the beach," he nodded, "Thanks. See ya Jake."

I turned and began to walk on my own but in a few seconds Jake was right there by my side and we walked in silence to our tree. Charlie was right I was definitely spending time outdoors, just not with him. Once we reached the tree I took a seat on it, but Jake stayed standing and looked out to the ocean. I looked too, I loved the water and how it looked with the sun bouncing off of it. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I opened my eyes and noticed Jake had sat next to me. I forgot how silent and graceful he could be. "So are you," I started and he turned, "are you going to stay quiet the whole time or are you going to talk to me." Then he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I missed you," was all he said but at that moment it was enough. We spent the next while in silence and he asked, "How are you doing?"

"I am doing okay. You know just me trying to live life," he looked down and noticed my ring.

"Wow, that is some…ring you got there," he said lifting my left hand.

"Yeah it's a bit much, but it's grown on me." I looked at his face and saw that there was sadness in his eyes. "You know I always liked your gift," I said raising my right arm to show him my bracelet with his charm on it, then the heart glistened with the sun and he sighed.

"He always out shines me doesn't he?" he said with light sarcasm while examining my charms. Twirling them between his fingers; I placed my hand on top of his and he looked up from the bracelet.

"You both are very different, and I believe if I had met you first I would love you as much as I do now and maybe we could have been together."

"But?"

"But…that is not the way things happened and even if I do love you, he is my choice, my mate. I am not asking you to accept it or be happy with it, but what I do ask is that you keep living life like you did before I came along. You have so much to give and it is wasted on me." He looked at me with hurt and anger in his eyes.

"I told you not to get your hopes up Bella. I may never find anyone," his said with so much declaration that someone would believe it. He pushed himself off the tree and walked to the water and stopped just where the ocean couldn't reach him. Looking out to the water again and stuffed his hands in his pockets and kicked the sand. I looked at him and analyzed his appearance, he was not my Greek God, but he was a Native Prince. A prince with life yet to be lived a heart waiting to be filled. I knew he loved me, but I was not the one for him. Even if Edward did not come into my life I know that there would be some way that Jacob would have to become a wolf and he would not have imprinted on me. I would be like Leah, with a scar on my heart because the one I loved could not be with me. Jake was searching for something, and he thought he could find it in me, but you can't find what is not there.

I pushed myself from the tree and walked up behind him. I wrapped my arms around his chest and laid my head against his back. He twisted me around so that I was in front of him and he lifted my face with a finger. We stood there for a while and he looked into my eyes, still searching. I gave him a half smile and he returned it and then he leaned down to rest his forehead on mine. Once I felt him move lower I tensed and opened my eyes. Could he really be doing this? I thought to myself, but he brushed his lips on my cheek to leave a kiss there. I sighed in relief.

"I told you I was going to be good," he smiled down to me and I couldn't help but return his smile.

"Yes you did," I let go of him and turned to see the sun was setting. "I didn't think we spent that much time out here."

"We usually did forget about the time when we were here. It was just you and me when we came down here. Nothing else," he whispered.

"Well I am glad I came down."

"Me too. I was worried that I was not going to see you again."

"I know, but I don't know when I will be able to come back down," obviously this was not something he wanted to hear.

"Why? Is your fiancé going to outlaw your right to come see me?" he was beginning to shake.

"Calm down Jake, you still can't phase yet," he calmed to a small tremble. I hugged him and buried my face in his chest. "Please, you promised to be good." His trembling stopped and he wrapped his arms around me and sighed. He relaxed.

"Well, we should get back," he said.

"Yeah, I have a few words to say to Charlie." This made Jake laugh. Good old Jake, my sun, my prince. I hoped, with all my heart, he found what he was searching for.