Ch. 3

I did just that, took a deep breath, edged my front wheel inches over the edge, let go of the clutch and I dropped. That breath escaped me when the nose of my bike was almost completely facing down. My concentration and control followed my breath as I lost both. My front tire stuck in a rut and I was flung over the handle bars landing on my back into a foot of fresh mud. Before I could even react to he situation Jake was hovering over me. "Bella! Bella! Are you okay?" He scooped me up in his arms, his knees were firmly planted deep in the mud. This was a lot different than my bike accident last year. Instead of pain and fear, this time I felt a wave of laughter coming over me. Before I knew it I was in a laughing fit. My clumsiness has grown to amuse me. Jacob was confused at first but I guess my laughter was contagious. We were in a fit of laughter, me in his arms, both of us completely covered in mud. Between laughter Jacob said with obviousness in his voice "Maybe this isn't for someone as accident prone as you." "Yeah, I'm not about to do that again." "Lets go back to my place and get cleaned up." "Thats probably a good idea." Jacob looked even more manly and rugged all covered in mud. It was a complimentary accesory to his Native American features. Me on the other hand looked like I victim from a horror movie in which the damsel in distress is chased through the woods during a storm by a psycho with an axe. With more speed this time I followed Jake back to the shed and we deposited our bikes. "Follow me to the other side of the house, there's a hose we can use over there." Jake said with determination. I followed him around back and watched him fire up the hose. "Here grab the hose, i'll go first." Jake proposed. I grabbed the hose and before I knew it he had taken off the sweatpants that he cut to shorts.

He stood there so comfortably just in his boxer breifs. My eyes widened. It was a scene from a dream. I was used to seeing Jake shirtless but this was completely new. His navy blue boxer briefs hugged his body immaculately, there wasn't the slightest slack of fabric. The elsastic band which he adjusted with his thumbs layed a couple inches under his bellybutton exposing his prominent and muscular hipbones. I was so busy admiring his form I almost didn't here him say "Are you gonna spray me or what?" "Oh! Sorry!" I replied completely caught off guard. Trying to not be obvious with my peaking, I tried to focus on Jakes feet as I hosed him down. This failed to keep my eyes from wondering up to see his rosette body being showered with water. Seeing him wash away the mud with his hands all over his neck, arms, chest and stomach almost made my knees buckle. "Alright, I think i'm good, your turn." he said, his body now steaming. I handed him the hose, moving my gaze to his eyes. So much ran through my head. Was I supposed to strip down to my underwear? Is it different cuz im a girl? My questions were answered when the water from the hose hit me. I felt silly, of course he wouldn't expect me to do that. Jake would never be that perverse. I could tell Jake was being careful about where is eyes focused, he made the process quick and comfortable for me. "Just about done." he explained. A few seconds later I was soaked and freezing but now mudless. Jake could see how violently I was shaking and just as I was hoping he wrapped his huge arms around my shoulders, rubbing my back with his man paws.

"Lets get you some dry clothes and warm you up." he spoke softly into my ear still holding my tightly. I wanted to say no and just stay in his embrace as long as I could but I believe that would breech friendship boundaries. "Yeah that sounds great." With one of his arms still around my neck we walked together into the house. He led us to his room. I waited, shaking, in his doorway while he rummaged through is drawers to find us some clothes. I loved Jacobs room, it was small, but comfy. There was the most amazing natural light that poored in from the window just above his bed. He had a few plants on his dresser which took up most of the space. Hanging from his ceiling he had about a dozen hand made dream catchers. It was a little messy but not a pig sty. It was very boyish, and I loved that. "These might be a little big but they should do the trick." He handed me a sleavless sweatshirt, some underwear and a pair of basketball shorts. "Sooo how about some privacy." I said joking. "Oh! Sorry, I should probably hop in the shower anyway, I'm pretty dirty." his voice a little shaky. He grabbed a towel from a little closet in the hallway and went in the bathroom which was right outside his bedroom door. When I heard the water turn on I decided it was safe to change. I put the sweatshirt he gave me up to my nose and inhaled deeply. It smelled just like Jacob, a hint of pine and a dash of boy. His smell makes me think of him, it makes me feel protected and completely at ease. I put on the sweatshirt first, oversized but extremley comfortable. Before I put on the underwear I took a minute to admire them properly, it amazes me how good of taste Jacob has in undergarments, he never struck me as a fashion forward person. They were a little baggy but were tight enough around the waste, as were the basketball shorts.

A mix of the feeling and smell of the clothes plus the intensity of todays activities drained the life from me. I figured Jake would appreciate me trying to catch up on some sleep so I slipped under his camouflage comforter in his bed and within seconds I was knocked out. I dreamt of Edward again. This time I was in his arms, laying in our favorite field. I was completely content just staring into eachothers eyes. "I love you Bella, don't do this." I wasn't completely sure what he meant like that but before I could respond the sound of a breaking branch shifted my attention. Standing only six feet from us was Jacob, his eyes were welled up with tears. A second after seeing Jacob appear in my dream I realized I was see him through half shut eyes in real life. The sound of the snapping branch was the dream parallel to the real life sound of him opening his bedroom door. Jacob must not have seen my eyes peaking through my heavy lids, he tip-toed into his room towards his dresser wearing nothing but a towel, his back faced me while he rifled through his underwear drawer. I should have said something in that moment but it happened so fast, I was afraid me abrubtly intervening would create a melodramtic and awkward situation between us. I decided letting him think I was sleeping would be better. You would think this would entail me keeping my eyes shut but because he wasn't facing me and my perverted curiousity I layed there watching and waiting to see what would happen. Before I could even come up with any kind of fantasy, the towel was on the floor as if someone snapped their fingers releasing its folded grip around his waste. Less than 4 feet from me was a completely uncensored view of my best friend from behind. What I saw wasn't anything less than what I would expect it to be. His freakishly smooth skin ran perfectly seemless from neck to achilles tendon. His rosette color was only slightly lightened where his underwear usually hugged tightly. He bent over to slip his legs through the holes of his boxer briefs in a fluid motion, pulling the elastic band an inch or two under the dimples in his lower back. Seeing this made my temperature sky rocket. My palms sweated from a mix of excitement and nervousness.

I loved every second of it. Fearing he might turn around now that he was somewhat covered, I made sure my eyes were completely closed. Him knowing what I just saw would be too awkward for words. I heard him shuffle through his room for a minute or 2 until it was drowned out by music he must have turned on. It was beautiful. The sound of a harp and one of the most unique voices I have ever heard took over me. My engulfment in the music was abrubtly interrupted when I realized what was happening. The edge of the bed dipped and the comforter I was under was being lifted in a fluid motion as a 108 degree body slid beside me. Jake was participating in what I thought was going to be a solo mid-day nap. He was on his side with his chest facing my right shoulder. I could feel the heat of his leg on the side of my thigh even without full contact. The music sped up in sync with my heartbeat. Never in my wildest dreams did I think todays activities would entail me being in bed with my best friend in his underwear. So many questions ran through my head. Should I stop this? Should I keep pretending to be asleep? Do friends do this type of thing? What am I going to tell Edward? A breakdown of piano and harp exploded in the background lead along by the harsh but pretty voice. The butterflies in my stomach seemed to flutter in a routine-like dance with the sounds I am hearing. I made a decision. I planned to pretend to be asleep until jake was done with his nap or until he went to the bathroom or got a glass of milk and pray that when he sees im awake that this can all be swept under the rug. That would have been a good plan until I felt him scoot closer. Now his face was but inches away from my neck and his leg slightly overlapped mine. I never knew Jake to be this forward. I went into a full fledged hormonal fit. I was losing control. It was now clear to me that what I thought to be confusion or nerves was actually excitement and arousal. This electricity I was feeling between our bodies was similar to the way I felt around Edward but slightly different. The feelings I got from edward were a more pure and metaphorically silky experience. What I was feeling with Jake was a lot more perverse and rugged. Something about his smell, muscles and tanned skin really got my blood pumping. A slower and equally beautiful song came on, it was quiet enough for me to hear that Jakes breathing had gotten louder and less controlled which let me know that he had fallen asleep; while me, less than an inch away was using every ounce of control I had just to mimic regular breathing patterns. Positive that he was asleep I figured it would be safe for me to open my eyes and really see what I imagined we looked like all cozied up in his bed. Jake was a VERY heavy sleeper so I knew turning my head to the side a little wouldn't wake him. Jake was beautiful when he slept. He has such a harsh and extreme aura to him that seeing him sleep is on the other hand, just as calming.

Is Bella gonna make a move? Or is this just gonna be a friendly catnap? Wait for chapter 4 to see what happens :]