New News!!

I've been nominated for the Indie TwiFic Awards. I'm so excited about this one though there's lots of competition.

So if you feel like they're worthy please go vote, I'm listed in the following categories:

Table for Two: AH Story that Knocks You Off Your Feet (WIP)

Pretty Little Secrets: Canon or AU Story that Knocks You Off Your Feet (Complete)

That Pull: Best Secondary Characterization (for Sam) (Complete)

Here's the voting link: http: // theindietwificawards. com/ vote. aspx (just remove the spaces)

Thanks Everyone!!!

A/N just a thanks to everyone for continued reading. love you all...love you all so much more when you review *shameless review hussy* so please leave me your thoughts! also big thanks to TwifanfictionBG for translating Table for Two into Bulgarian for their readers...who'd a thunk it. love the reviews from over seas!

Thanks my lovely Beta Neutron Phantom for putting up with my inability to even spell "the" right sometimes hahaha. alright I've said enough onto the story bitches.

Table For Two

Chapter 6

"Urgh." An indefinable disgruntled noise came from Bella's mouth. I had to laugh at the scene unraveling before me as I watched Bella's third attempt at getting the ball past the windmill.

"Stop laughing, this sucks!"

"Seriously," I said, crouched over holding my stomach, tears in my eyes, "did you just stomp your foot at me?"

"No," Bella scowled stomping her foot again and I pointed at her legs and laugh some more. Bella rolled her eyes and laughed at herself before picking up the ball and walking to the other side of the windmill.

"That's cheating!" I shouted so the only other team on the course turned to look and Bella began to blush as she shhhh'd me with one finger over her lips. We played the rest of the hole and moved onto the next.

"What a stupid game," Bella mumbled and pouted toward the next hole. It was times like these with that cute scowl on her face and the spark in her eye that she didn't look so much older than me; she didn't look tired like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. In fact, she looked almost happy, and that made her glow.

"Okay, Happy Gilmore, this time into the croc's mouth and out his tail okay?" I motioned toward the fiberglass crocodile facing us, mouth wide-open waiting for the ball.

"Jacob," she said, turning to set her ball down and then stood back upright looking up at me, "anyone ever tell you that you should try taking your act on the road? Because you're just sooooo funny."

"Ball, croc, mouth, now," I said pointing at the hole in front of her knowing that it irritated her to no end when I tried to act like the boss. We both knew who that was in this relationship.

Over the next few holes I offered my advice, my coaching, and even my putter after she insisted that it was a faulty putter that had her doing so bad. We even let the one other group on the course move ahead of us as we had started holding up the line. It turned eerily silent when they finished and we became the only ones there.

"Okay Swan, crunch time; it's the eighteenth hole, you've got just one chance. What do you do?" I tried pepping her up in my best 'coach' voice.

"Cheat," she said in deadpan.

"Here," I grabbed the club out of her hand and tucked it under my arm as I turned her positioning her in front of her ball. I stood behind her and brought the club around front of her. I gulped hard and swallowed when I bent down and the scent that was distinctly Bella hit me like a freight train and made me lightheaded.

"Okay," I said clearing my throat, "grab the club where my hands are." As she did, I slowly removed my hands and curled them over top of hers. I was having a really hard time focusing on the task at hand. Putt-Putt man, get it together Black. "Okay, now just swing with me." I drew the club back and moved it forward smoothly hitting the ball just right as it went directly into the hole and down the hill to the bottom of the course.

"I did it!" Bella shouted and turned around still inside the frame of my arms. Instantly, we were inches apart, me still bent down slightly, and Bella on her toes bouncing excitedly. Suddenly realizing the closeness she stopped bouncing and for a very brief moment we stared at each other, but all too soon Bella caught herself and pulled away.

"Sorry, just got a little excited." She fiddled with the hem of her t-shirt and started down the hill toward her ball.

I followed closely and we quickly finished our last hole. We were back to that uncomfortable silence that sometimes came when neither of us knew what to say. "Hungry yet?" I asked, handing the attendant our putters.

"Sure, sort of," Bella scanned the street line briefly, "there?" she offered and I followed her pointed finger across the street to the park. I smiled brightly at her and nodded. One thing I loved about Bella was that she wasn't into impressing anyone. She didn't need dinners at the fancy club we worked at, and she didn't need things lavishly thrown at her; she just needed someone to be real with her.

We made our way across the street in downtown Port Angeles. "Ladies first," I said, motioning for her to order her dinner and watched as this decision seemed so big for her. I watched her nose scrunch in indecision and chuckled when she finally said "just mustard and relish please."

I waited for the guy with the cart to hand her the hot dog and ordered one with the works. We took our high-end cuisine to a nearby bench and sat down, diving into our dogs. We sat there in silence, but this time it wasn't awkward. It was nice. The sun was out and people were on the waterfront heading out in their boats for the evening.

"I love the water," Bella said eyes still focused on the harbor. "You never know how much you liked or missed something until you don't have it around."

I looked at her, confused. "You don't have water around?" Okay, that sounded more thought out in my head.

"Well, now," she said like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "but before, before I moved here…my home's not known for having much water around, not like this."

"Huh? I thought you were from Forks. I mean, I heard you still lived with your dad." Shit. Shit. Damn. Bella's head snapped up to meet my apologetic gaze; I hoped I hadn't offended her.

But she just laughed. "Well, I haven't always lived with my dad." She sat there momentarily, "you do know that I just moved here right? When I started working with Seth."

"No, how would I know that?"

"Well, Seth and… I mean… he didn't say anything? You didn't ask him?" I couldn't tell if she was relieved that Seth didn't tell me anything, or upset that I hadn't asked about her.

"No!" I shouted. "Well I did ask, but he didn't." Well that went well, moron, now what? "I mean Seth, he doesn't go around telling other people's business. Plus, he said if I wanted to get to know you so bad I was just going to have to do it myself."

My eyes grew really big and Bella blushed but laughed. "I mean… never mind," I shook my head and looked down, waiting for my embarrassing moment to pass.

"It's okay, I guess I just thought you knew. I… I don't mind that you asked," Bella looked up to me from under her lashes and I met her gaze, and for the second time during our 'date' we found ourselves lost in the moment.

"I, um, started working with Seth about 4 months ago and yes I live with my dad but only since I moved here about five months ago." There was almost a defensive edge to her tone and I knew it was because of people like Jessica. She leaned back on the bench and sighed deeply.

"And before that?" I asked, knowing I was taking a big risk but dying to know everything I could about her.

"You ask a lot of questions." She turned to look at me, a slight smile on her face, but discomfort was apparent in her eyes.

"I just want to get to know you Bella. It's not such a bad thing, learning things about your friends."

"What is it about you that makes me feel so comfortable?" Not really asking me, more like she was asking herself. I stood up and offered her my hand, which she took, and I pulled her up before letting go and leading her to the pier.

"Most people like the fancy yachts docked over there." I pointed to the private docks of the Port Angeles Yacht Club. "I prefer these ones, the fishing boats."

"They suit you," she said, smiling, and waved to one of the guys hauling traps off the boats. I wasn't sure what she meant by that, but seeing as I didn't know Bella to have an evil bone in her body, I took it as a compliment. We walked the long pier in silence; once in a while one of us would graze the other, but this time instead of pulling away from me, Bella was comfortable with the accidental touches.

"Arizona," Bella suddenly said when we reached the end of the pier and sat down, she slipped off her sandals so she could dangle her feet off the edge and I followed suit.

"States in the southwest?"

"No," she said and nudged me with her elbow, "before here, I lived in Arizona. Phoenix to be exact."

"Phoenix, wow, that's a pretty big move." A million questions rushed through my head and I didn't know if I should ask them or just listen and be grateful for any bit of info she'd tell me.

"I guess, but sometimes big moves are good for you." She began playing with a few strands of her hair.

"Yeah, I think you're right about that," I answered, remembering the conversation I had with my dad not too long ago. "So, tell me about Phoenix?" I knew all too well that sometimes big moves—life changing moves—meant leaving behind things that weren't necessarily all sunshine and roses.

"Well, I grew up there, with my mom I mean. I saw my dad a lot though. Summers we'd always go somewhere fun, sometimes I'd stay here with him but mostly he'd take me places. California, the Grand Canyon… it was the best part of my summers." She looked out over the water and a small smile played on her lips, and at that moment, she was the most beautiful woman I knew I'd ever seen.

"That sounds nice," I said, fingers itching to touch the side of her cheek, to help her take away the sadness that always stayed in her eyes.

"Mm, I love my dad, that's why I came. He took care of me for years and now it's time for me to return the favor."

"What do you mean 'return the favor'?" Bella looked up at me quizzically then her eyes got large as she realized what she said.

"Oh, um, my dad is just dealing with some things, but Jacob please don't tell anyone at the club. I mean I just…please," she was frantic, scared that I would tell her secrets; I grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"It's okay Bella, you don't have to worry about me telling anyone, but know that I'm here if you do need to talk to someone."

"Thanks Jacob, you know I don't like people knowing my business. It's bad enough people make up things."

"Sure Bella, I get that, more than you know. What do you say we head back?" I nodded toward the park and the truck across the street. The sun had already begun to set and I had no idea what time it was or how long we had sat there.

Bella nodded and I stood, offering my hand once again to help her up. "I know I've said it before, Jacob, but one of these days I really want to see some ID, you're too polite and well…gentlemanly to be twenty one."

"Well maybe you just haven't met anyone like me before," and I could have sworn she said 'you've got that right' under her breath. "But what did I say about focusing on age so much?"

We made our way back down the pier watching the boats light up like stars on the water; dusk was beautiful on the harbor. "So how exactly did you know I lived with my dad if Seth doesn't talk about me?"

"That's not important. How does Seth know so much about you?" I retorted, still interested in how close the two of them actually were.

"No no no, I've been talking all day Jacob Black, it's your turn." She had me there, but I couldn't let her off the hook that easily. "Tell me all about the life of a college boy, toga parties, panty raids all that stuff you boys do."

I laughed loudly at her. "I can assure you I'm all man, Bella,"—that earned a snort—"but really, my life isn't at all like that. I think you assume way too much about this 'boy'. I should be offended." I threw her a smirk.

"I'm sorry Jacob, I don't mean to do that, it's just…I have an uncanny knack lately of pushing people away. I think if keep reminding myself of how different we are then it will make it easier."

"Make what easier Bella?"

"Not getting attached," she visibly took a large step away from me to put some distance between us. "You don't need to be nice to me but you are, you have a way about you that makes me want to tell you everything, and one of these days you're going to realize how different we are."

I abruptly stopped causing her to turn around and look at me, "Bella, that's not going to happen. I like you, I really like you, and your age or my age or the fact that I still eat Spaghettios for breakfast isn't going to change that. I'm not going anywhere."

Bella laughed at me but nodded her head and offered me a slight smile. "How about this, Bella Swan…" I knew if she was going to take me seriously that I was going to need to start opening up too. But for her, I would. "Tit for tat, you ask me something, and I have to answer it. But you have to do the same."

I grabbed her hand and started walking again, sure that this would get her to play my way. "You're really quite annoying you know? Do you think that cocky smirk and good looks will get you your way?"

"Is that you're first question?" I asked and she looked at me with daggers. It didn't go unnoticed to me that she hadn't yet pulled her hand out of mine. "The answer is no, my pops and the guys don't usually fall for that. So, you really think I'm good looking?"

That earned a blush of embarrassment but unaware her color gave her away she tried to play it off annoyed, "god you have to get over yourself Jacob."

"That's not an answer Bella…but we'll let that pass for now. Let's see," I tapped my chin as we waited at the cross walk in the park heading back toward her truck in the parking lot. "You're thirty years old and just moved here, you're just starting college…"

I could see Bella start to pick at the hem of her t-shirt and get shifty, assuming I was going to ask what she was doing in Arizona before she came here. "So, tell me, how'd your mom end up in Arizona and your dad in Washington?"

Bella visibly deflated, letting go of the breath she was holding and smiled up at me before chatting away. "My dad is a small town guy; simple life, simple needs. He met my mom as she was passing through town driving from Southern California to Vancouver. She said she was trying to 'find herself'. They met, they fell in love and she stayed. Three years later they were married with a two year old."

We reached her truck and both went to the passenger's side. What surprised me was that Bella opened the door then stood aside, motioning for me to get in with a sly grin on her face. I laughed loudly, my head falling back, but dug into my pocket and handed her the keys and climbed in while she shut the door.

"So anyway," she said, getting in and starting the truck, "I think they both knew it was only a matter of time before she got restless and moved on." With a shrug, Bella ended that line of question. I however had a million more questions about her mom.

"So, my turn then?" Bella asked and I nodded, "you going to tell me who's talking about me to you if not Seth?" There was a defensive tone to her voice and I knew she wasn't going to like my answer.

"Jessica may have mentioned it, when we were working." I tried to be dismissive and nonchalant. I did not want to go into the details of that conversation.

"Ah, Jessica," she chuckled but I didn't miss the flash of hurt followed by jealousy that came and went in her eyes. "My biggest fan. So what'd she tell you, I was some spinster old lady living with her father and a house full of cats?"

"Um, something like that I guess," I squirmed a little suddenly uncomfortable.

"Well, its obvious she likes you," Bella glanced out of the corner of her eye to gauge my reaction, to which I had none. "She's pretty opinionated on things that she knows nothing about. Did she…tell you anything else?"

I knew she was hedging me to find out if I knew about the rumor of her and Edward but I wanted to hear that story from Bella herself. "No, nothing, there wasn't much time what with me telling her off."

"What?!" Bella asked, laughing so hard she snorted, "Told her off about what?"

I shrugged smiling at her, "She's a spoiled brat. Told her that I didn't have a daddy paying my way and that my mom was a lunch lady when I was a kid so we didn't really mesh."

And of course, Bella being Bella, being just…perfect… (God I am turning into a girl) kept laughing. "Lunch lady? Yeah my mom did that too." I looked at her in shock but she continued. "Oh yeah, and janitor at my school, that was fun for a sixth grader."

"Tell me about it," then it dawned on me, the similarities, the things we had in common. "Bella, do you find it surreal that we have so much in common? I mean, our backgrounds, our late starts in life…" our dads being sick.

"Well, if you tell me that you're mom was also a yoga instructor and a preschool teacher or that your dad was a cop then I'm definitely going to call Steven King and tell him I found my doppelganger."

I laughed as I rolled up the window, the air growing cooler with the sun setting. "No, not yoga…your mom really taught yoga? What does she do now?"

"Oh she doesn't work, not since she married Phil… Phil…" Bella's voice became a whisper and her hands started to shake on the steering wheel and her eyes started to water.

"Bella, are you okay?" As if on autopilot Bella pulled herself out of her daze and plastered a smile on her face.

"I'm fine, sorry, just spaced out for a second." Bullshit.

"Bella, what's going on?" She pulled up to the curb of my apartment building, not bothering to pull into the parking lot. I knew that meant she wasn't coming up even if I asked.

"Nothing Jacob, I'm fine, I guess all this talk about Arizona made me miss it."

"And Phil, you got upset when you started talking about him."

"Phil, my step dad, one of the greatest guys in the world, you know he used to play baseball professionally? My mom married him when I was eight."

"So why did…"

"Jacob, it's getting late and I think you've asked me way more questions than I asked you, you owe me like five next time."

Bella had effectively shut down the conversation and our evening and I knew there was no more to be said. "Next time?"

"Um, yeah," she put her truck in park and turned to face me. "I had fun today, I thought you did but if you don't want to hang out…"

"Of course I do, I just thought I royally pissed you off. I want to hang out with you whenever you want."

"I'm not mad Jacob, and I'm trying to be friends. Just don't get frustrated with me okay?"

"Of course, and next time, you pick the place and I'll do all the talking okay?"

She flashed me her biggest brightest smile and we agreed to hang out again on Thursday afternoon before work.

Seth still wasn't home when I got upstairs. It was only seven o'clock and he was working the dinner shift at the club so I sat down on the couch and let the day slowly replay in my head. Thinking of the conversation we had about her dad and stepdad I picked up the phone.

"Hey pops," I said after he picked up, "how are you feeling today?"

"Jake, hey kid. I'm good. Had a good day." I smiled into the phone, and listened as he replayed his day starting out with group therapy that lead to Sue taking him and his new friend Charlie over to her house so Harry could take them fishing.

I was glad he had people; it made me nervous with his disease getting worse and being so far away. I allowed myself a little more slack knowing that there were people to help me. This learning to live thing was harder than it looked.

okay I can't answer your questions until you ask, if your confuzzled about anything let me know. If you don't like something let me know, I may not care but it will get filed away for future reference lol. I know this chapter probably didn't relieve as much about Bella as you wanted but I'm going for as real world as I can get here folks, hopefully your heads are turning now!

xxoo

M.

A/N Blackpack dot livejournal dot com (which I just happen to mod with two of the most killer chicks around) has opened up a Recommended Fics Library so get your asses over there and rec some fics!