Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. Isn't it a shame?

AN: Okay, this story kicks into high gear with this chapter. I hadn't planned on it happening this way but it's funny how things can work themselves out when my Jake muse gets forceful. Enjoy.

A bolt of lightning lit up the dark cabin followed by a loud clap of thunder. Nora trembled at the end of Bella's bed. She had climbed up when the storm started not long after lights out. The room lit up again and Nora whimpered. Bella sat up, pulling Nora up and into her arms. The trembling stopped as Bella rocked them gently.

Bella lay down, pulling Nora with her. She smoothed her hair down as thunder rumbled once more. Both ceiling fans slowed to a stop confirming her fears: the power had been knocked out. Wind howled and rain pelted against the side of the cabin relentlessly. This storm was a doozy with no signs of letting up anytime soon.

Nora finally settled against her and soon she fell asleep. Consoling freaked out campers was a part of the job description even if Bella didn't deal with it often. Bella sighed, trying to drown out the noise outside. After a few minutes she gave up trying and reached for her phone. Phones were permitted as long as you didn't use them when you were supposed to be watching the kids. She sent Jacob a message and within seconds he answered back.

What are you doing up?

Nora is scared of the storm.

What is she doing?

I finally got her to settle down. All it took was me being a human pillow. What are you doing?

I'm in Embry and Emmett's cabin since the boys were too loud for Edwards liking. They're telling ghost stories.

Everyone's asleep in my cabin except for me. I can't go back to sleep.

I'll be there in five.

No, don't go out in this mess.

Her phone was silent and five minutes later she heard Jacob on the porch. She slipped out of bed and tiptoed across the floor and the door creaked when it opened. Jacob sat on the porch swing, his hair matted to his head and his clothes clinging to him like a second skin.

"Are you insane?" she whispered accusingly.

"You would have done the same thing."

"Yes, but I would have remembered to grab an umbrella."

"I knew I forgot something," he said sarcastically, smacking his forehead.

"Smart ass," she said, nudging him in the side.

"You know, if it weren't raining we'd be swimming right now."

"There's always tomorrow night."

"True."

He draped his arms over the back of the swing and she curled into him, not caring that he was soaking wet. His feet pushed the swing gently and they let silence fall over them. It was nights like this that made Bella aware of all the things that were going on between them. Most people wouldn't brave a category three storm just to sit up with someone just because they couldn't sleep. Now was a good time as any to define their friendship.

"Jake?"

"Hmm?" he asked, his voice a deep rumble.

"Do you think things would have turned out different for us if I lived in Forks?"

"Different how?"

"Do you think we'd be more than friends?"

"I don't know. We can't go back and change things. I'm pretty happy with the way things worked out."

"I am too, but what if I had been around?"

"We'd be closer that's for sure," he said thoughtfully.

"Closer how?"

"We'd be dating more than likely but we'd be about to break up because I know how you feel about long distance relationships," he said with a sigh.

"Just because I wasn't ready with Riley doesn't mean that I wouldn't have tried for you."

"Why are we talking about this?" he asked quietly.

"Because I need to you to say it out loud. I need to know that I'm not imagining things," she sniffled.

"Are you crying?"

"No, I'm just stressed out. Why does this have to be so hard?" she asked in frustration.

"Because we're both stubborn and bull headed."

"That must be it," she agreed with a nod.

"Do you like me too?"

"What are we twelve?" she asked with a short laugh.

"Nah, we're thirteen," he said, laughing along with her.

"We'll work through this."

"You didn't answer my question," he prodded.

"Yes, Jake, I like you. I thought that it was obvious."

He kissed the top of her head as the storm raged on around them. Neither of them knew that the girls and Leah were were hanging on their every word. Claire and Leah fist bumped while Bree let out a content sigh.

"You're next Curly," Claire said with a sinister grin.

Bree stared at her with wide, surprised eyes. She hadn't been the same since Seth had been exiled to his parents cabin. The only time she saw him was in the mess hall and he usually ate by himself. Even Colin and Brady couldn't get through to him. Everyone hoped that Harry and Sue would let him rejoin the campers. It was only a matter of time.

XXXX

It rained off and on all morning. Mother nature didn't care that it was the Fourth of July. Bella and Leah had their hands full because the girls were starting to get restless. They gathered the girls and they all went over to Alice and Angela's cabin. After two hours of makeovers and trying on clothes they were bored yet again.

"I have an idea," Rosalie said.

"We're not playing cards again," Beth proclaimed.

"This is better. Who here has played 'Never Have I Ever'?"

A few hands went up then Rosalie explained her version of the game. Each person would say something that they'd never done and if anyone else had never done it they would raise their hand. Everyone agreed to play and formed a circle and Alice volunteered to go first.

"Okay, let me think...Never ever have I been drunk."

All but a few hands went up, the only counselors who had never been drunk were Bella and Angela.

"Never have I ever been in an accident," Bella said.

Most of the hands went up again. Leah and Bree were the only ones who didn't raise their hands. Bree was next and it took her a minute to think of something.

"Okay, I've got one. Never have I ever had sex."

Surprisingly, only Carrie, Nora and Angela raised their hands other than the campers under the age of thirteen. Leah looked at Bella in surprise.

"When?" she asked pointedly.

"Two summers ago," she said with a shrug.

"Riley Biers," Leah said reverently.

"Also known as Angel Eyes. He could get you to do anything just by looking at you," Claire said with a nod of her head.

"He was cute," Jessica said with a giggle.

"What happened?" Rosalie asked.

"He went away to college and I went back to Florida. Neither of us were old enough to handle that much distance," Bella explained.

"What ever happened to him?" Claire asked.

"He's still in college, he's seeing some girl from Seattle," Bella answered.

"You two stayed friends?" Alice questioned.

Bella nodded. Riley had been her first love and she would never forget him. He was a nice guy who all of her friends and her dad had approved of. She had kept in contact with him as much as possible until his girlfriend had gotten jealous. They still Facebooked every once in a while but she hadn't seen him face to face since they'd said goodbye two summers ago.

The game continued until it was time to go down for lunch. The generator that ran everything in the mess hall was up and running so that they could cook lunch. As usual Bell and Jacob sat back to back but they were still able to carry on a conversation. It was obvious to everyone that something had happened.

Harry and Sue announced that they were going to have a movie night since the fireworks had been canceled.

"We've got a few choices for you guys so let us read 'em out before you start yelling out. We've got The Hunger Games, The Avengers, Captain America and Thor."

Everyone voted and decided on Thor before Embry and Jacob announced that they were putting together a game of Mudball.

"What's Mudball?" Jasper asked.

"It's football with mud. It gets intense and it's not for everybody. We won't think any less of anybody who doesn't want to play...Bella," Embry said with a sneer.

"Girls can play too?" Beth asked.

"Sure," Jacob said with a nod.

"Just know that if you rip up the grass you will be replanting it," Sue warned.

Bella went down to help Angela wipe the bleachers down while the group picked teams. Seth was able to play since Sue and Harry would be going to town to pick up the mail and get some things for movie night.

They were still in the first quarter when it started to rain. The counselors made the decision to keep the game going since it wasn't raining that hard and there wasn't any lightning or thunder. The bystanders huddled together under umbrellas as the game grew heated.

Quil intercepted the ball for his team and made it halfway down the field before he was tackled by Paul and Sam. They both got up but Quil stayed on the ground, holding his arm, writhing in agony. All the players gathered around him asking him if he was okay while everyone in the stands watched with baited breath.

"Why did they both have to tackle him?" Nora asked.

"Quil's huge, it takes two people to bring him down," Bella explained.

"Has anybody called Harry and Sue?" Claire called.

"His aunt and uncle are on their way," Seth called back.

Claire climbed over three people to get down from the bleachers. No one would have known that she'd been taken to the emergency room two days before. She was across the field before anyone could blink. Quil's aunt and uncle showed up to take him to the hospital and Jacob had to hold Claire back because she wanted to go with them.

Everyone went back to their cabins but none of them could shake what had happened. The siren blared an hour later taking them by surprise. Dinner wasn't for another three and a half hours so why were they being summoned to the mess hall? They trudged down the hill in the pouring rain. Bella and Leah flanked Claire because she had been distraught since Quil had left. Sue was standing on the platform and called for everyone's attention.

"Quil has broken his collar bone in three places and dislocated his elbow. He won't be back for the rest of the summer and I've contacted someone who can take his place. Meanwhile I have some more news: After tomorrow Leah will no longer be with us. Jessica will be moving into cabin one with Bella and Leah's replacement will be in cabin three with Rosalie."

"Why is Leah leaving?" Seth asked.

"She got a letter last week informing her that if she didn't take her internship with the department of forestry that she wouldn't get the credits that she needs to graduate."

Bella looked to Leah with questioning eyes but Leah looked down at her hands.

"Where's Harry?" Paul asked.

"He's at the hospital with Quil. Since he was injured here it would be considered a work related injury so the camp is liable to pay his doctor bills," Sue explained.

Sue dismissed everyone and Bella caught up to Leah as she tried to leave with Sam.

"I'll let you two talk," he said quietly.

Leah looked down at her feet as Bella crossed her arms over her chest.

"When were you planning on telling me?"

"I've been trying to tell you all week, I just haven't found the right words. I'm sorry," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Do you know who's coming?"

Leah nodded, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. Since Jessica was being moved into their cabin that could only mean one thing: Victoria was coming.

"You couldn't warn me?"

"I didn't find out until this morning. She'll be here by dinner and I'm spending my last night up at the house."

Bella heaved a sigh, dragging her hands through her hair. She knew that she shouldn't be thinking the worst because maybe Victoria had changed. Something in her gut told her that she was wrong.

XXXX

Everyone took turns telling Leah goodbye the next morning. Victoria hadn't shown up last night because the storm that had hit them had made it's way down to Seattle. She and the new guy would be arriving together. Bella was sitting on the porch in the early morning sunlight when Victoria came walking up the trail.

Bell avoided eye contact with her, hoping that Victoria wouldn't call her out. She could hear Victoria's condescending voice in her head, chastising her for every little thing she did. Nothing she did was good enough or right in Victoria's eyes. She would never have made it through that first summer if it hadn't been for her friends and Riley.

Victoria didn't even cast a sideways glance at her before climbing the steps of cabin three. Bella went inside to find the girls asking Jessica a hundred questions at once.

"Guys, ease up. You'll have the next six weeks to get to know her. Let her be," Bella said over the noise.

The girls scattered giving Jessica a chance to breathe.

"Is she here?"

"Yep. I hope Rosalie knocks her off her high horse," Bella said smugly.

"Amen Sister," Jessica agreed.

"I'm gonna go see Leah before breakfast. Can you get them down there?"

"Sure, where do you keep their leashes?" she joked.

Bella laughed before waving over her shoulder. She found Leah and Sam in the parking lot and Sam was loading his car with Leah's things.

"Where are you staying?"

"I didn't tell you that Sam and I moved in together? We have an apartment."

"No you didn't, Miss Fornicator," Bella teased with a click of her tongue.

"I'll come and see you when you get to your dad's." Leah promised.

"Call me?"

"You bet," Leah said before getting in the car.

As she turned to walk up the stairs she saw someone out of the corner of her eye. Riley stood, leaning against the same banged up Jeep that he'd driven two years ago. He smiled in greeting, his smile reaching his ocean blue eyes. His dirty blond hair was a little shorter and he had filled out more but other than that he hadn't changed.

"Hey," he said, pushing away from the Jeep.

"Hey," she said with a kind smile.

"Bet you didn't expect to see me huh?" he teased with a laugh.

"You could say that. How have you been?" she asked breezily.

"Good. You?"

"I'm good," she said with a nod.

"I hear you're going to UDub this year."

"How'd you hear?"

"Your dad told my mom. Congratulations," he said opening his arms.

She stepped into his arms, relieved that all the feelings that she had for him were gone. She was glad that they both could be mature and remain friends.

"Riley?" Victoria called from behind them.

"I haven't told you, Victoria and I are getting married," he said pulling away from her.

"That's great, when?" she asked in surprise.

"We haven't set a date yet," Victoria answered.

"Congratulations," Bella said, meeting Victoria's eyes.

Victoria gave her a unsure look before flashing her a quick frosty smile. Yes, this summer was going to be one for the record books. Bella wondered how she would get through it if she didn't have her friends because she never would make it through any of this alone.