Chapter 1: Whoa. With a Capital 'W'.

Jacob

When I found out she had jumped off the cliff I was so frightened. I had told her I would take her, but I guess patience is not her strong suit. Oh God, when I pulled her out of that water it was like hauling a sack of rocks, she was so cold and still I thought she was dead at first.

I pummelled her back, her chest, trying to get her to breathe but she wouldn't. I pleaded, I remember, just wanting her to live, to try. When she gasped out my name I almost fainted with relief, I will admit, and I am not the kind of guy that faints. I took her back to my house. I wanted her where I could see her, for one thing. I certainly hoped at the time she had learned her lesson, not to go jumping from cliffs until you knew what you were doing, but I didn't want to take any chances.

All my patrolling, the excitement of the day and Harry's hospitalisation just took its toll on me, and when Bella asked me to stay with her for a few minutes, I conceded. Leaning up against the couch I let my eyes close.

"Guess I could rest for a minute…" I murmured, sliding into oblivion. I guess she had fallen asleep also, 'cause when Billy came in and turned on the light I almost phased, the shock was so great and I was on all alert, but I've always been good at controlling myself. I knew immediately from his face that Harry Clearwater had not made it, and even though I felt the loss, a part of me was rejoicing that the one who had died that day was not my Bella.

Sam, who had brought Billy home, left rather quickly to go back to the hospital. Sue and her kids, Leah and Seth, would need a lot of support in the coming months. I slumped back down on the floor next to Bella and just wished I could let go, cry or whatever it is that people do in these situations. I was too young, really, when my mom died, so this sort of thing was new to me.

I felt Bella's hand on my shoulder, rubbing it in a lightly circular motion, and I caught it up in my own monster-sized palm, holding it to my cheek. I realised a little late I hadn't really taken good care of her after I'd brought her back here and remorse flooded me.

"How are you feeling? Are you okay? I probably should have taken you to a doctor or something." I sighed, but she assured me she was okay, I shouldn't worry. But I wanted to worry. After all, certain other people didn't care, and she needed someone to worry about her. She needed someone to love her like she deserved.

She looked like hell, literally. When I went to go get her truck so I could take her home I did finally let loose the tears, but it didn't last long. I was just too tired, too relieved, to care. I knew later, though, Billy and I would sit and talk. It didn't take me long to get back to the house, even though that truck is so ancient I'm surprised even my mechanical skills kept it running, and she was still sprawled listlessly on the couch in the same position I'd left her.

She shivered when I brought her outside, and I hugged her close with one arm, bundling her into the passenger side. I was driving, and I really didn't think she was in a position to complain. I pulled her close to me to keep her warm as we headed back to Forks, to her house. When she leaned her head against my chest I just breathed her in.

"How will you get home?" She asked me, obviously forgetting that hey, I could walk faster than this truck.

"I'm not going home." I replied. "We still haven't caught that bloodsucker, remember?" She shuddered against me and I felt relieved that she was frightened, because maybe it meant she would think of her safety now and also that it was me she was relying on to keep her safe. She was quiet after that, and I took the chance to just be with her.

When we got to the dark, silent house and I cut the engine, the silence lay so thick it was like the winter blanket I used as a kid, sort of suffocating. I'm not sure what she was thinking, but I couldn't let her go, so I just wrapped her tightly with both arms.

A little bit of guilt rushed through me. She didn't want me like that. She wanted a friend, I knew this. She'd said it tons of times. "I'm sorry." I apologised. "I know you don't feel exactly the way I do, Bells. I swear I don't mind. I'm just so glad you're okay."

I laughed a little, crushing her a little closer, leaning my cheek up against her head. She was cold, I could tell, and I hoped that my high temperature could help keep some of that chill away. I thought she might pull away but she didn't. Instead she nuzzled closer, her head turning slightly so her lips pressed into my shoulder and I froze. What was she doing? Bella had never acted like this.

"Oh Jake." She sighed, almost as if she were not really talking to me but making a decision instead, only saying it out loud.

I cleared my throat and pulled her away from me enough so that I could see her face. "Bella?" I asked, wondering what she would say. The fact that she had not tried to escape my hold yet gave me a thrill.

"Jake, I…" She hesitated, her eyes darting downwards and another sigh escaping her lips. When she looked back up at me, I saw something new in her gaze, but at the time I wasn't sure what it meant. "Jake, you love me."

I was confused. I mean, duh, it was so obvious. She knew very well I loved her, wanted her more than life, almost. Just as I knew, or thought I knew, she didn't want me the same way.

"What about it?" I asked cautiously.

Her eyes stared into mine and suddenly she gave me a tiny smile. "I think, Jake, I could maybe love you too."

My breath caught in my throat. Was I dreaming? I hadn't thought I was that tired to be imagining something so far-fetched as this. "Bells," I croaked. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying," she paused. "I'm saying that I think I can love you. I think I am willing to give it a shot, but only…only if you'll have me."

"If I'll only have you!" I exploded, crushing her to me again. "If only I'll have you! Bella, Isabella! I wouldn't dream of having any one but you!"

To my shock and before I could make my own move, she levered herself up, using me to do it, and pressed her lips to mine. One word: Whoa, with a capital 'w'. Naturally I kissed her back. Her lips felt so soft, I was kind of surprised. I mean, when you get right down to it, she really was the first girl I had kissed like this. Sisters, of course, don't count, especially when you are three and kissing someone is fun simply because of the reactions when you stick your tongue out and lick their cheek.

After a minute she broke away, that tiny smile on her face again and hope in her eyes. At least, I think it was hope. Probably hope that I would not let her down, like someone I refuse to name. Unlike him, I would never. I had left her once, when Sam's alpha edict said I couldn't say anything to her, and that had hurt. I was glad when she figured it out and we could be friends again, cause I had really hated Sam for a little while.

"I should get you inside." I murmured, then blushed. "So you can like, take a hot shower and change clothes, I mean."

"Yeah." She said, her voice scratchy. That ocean dunking really had not done her any good and I wouldn't be surprised if she came down with something because of it. Opening the door I kind of roughly dragged her out with me, not really wanting to lose contact for any amount of seconds.

She gave a rough giggle as she fished her key off the door and opened it. "Make yourself comfortable, Jake. I'll make dinner after I take a shower, okay?"

"Yeah." I agreed, settling onto the couch as she slowly went up the stairs.