Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight but I do own the OC character's mentioned in this chapter.

AN: In unrelated Twilight news, I have BIG news. After being out of work for three months I have found the perfect job for me. It's only seven hours a week but I have the option of getting more hours once I've gone through my trial period. This job kind of fell into my lap, but I had been praying that I would find one for a while. It's crazy how things work out sometimes, right?

Weeks passed by and before Bella knew it there were only three weeks left in the camp season. She'd kept in contact with her parents and a small handful of friends from Florida with a new letter arriving from her mom every Thursday. It was something that she had come to look forward to. She only had to wait until dinner before she'd get another letter. She'd found out from Seth that his dad would be gone for the weekend giving Sue a chance to get ready for his surprise birthday party on Sunday. Her and Jacob's dads would be there by nightfall so that they could get an early start on their guys weekend with Harry in the morning.

Bella and Jacob's relationship was progressing slowly. They didn't want to take things too far because PDA between counselors in front of campers was forboden. Emmett and Rosalie had been written up last week for skinny dipping when Harry caught them in the middle of the day. Luckily, they were far enough down the shore in a part of lake that the kids weren't allowed to frequent due to the onslaught of leeches in the water. They had both been spared but were still embarrassed.

Bella and Jacob had found a hiding place where no one would think to look for them. The old supply shed wasn't exactly clean and it was infested with spiders. No one would go near it so Bella and Jacob could go whenever they wanted; after Jacob had sprayed it with bug killer and Bella cleaned it of spiderwebs at least. They could do whatever they wanted and hoped that no one found them.

Jacob stood in front of her and she was pressed against the counter. He stared down at her giving her an intense stare that made her breath hitch. She felt laid out bare to him underneath his prodding eyes and hands which rested against her stomach underneath her shirt. His hands were hot as a branding iron against her skin. This was the farthest they had gotten because people were known to walk by every once in a while; even if they didn't stop.

She sighed before pushing up on her elbows to reach his waiting lips. He lifted her onto the counter and nudged her legs open with his knee. Once he was flush against her his hands explored her back, moving up to her shoulder blades. She sighed against his lips, linking her arms around his neck. The kiss was leisurely, they weren't in a hurry. Neither of them had anywhere that they needed to be. His tongue stroked hers, eliciting a moan from deep in her throat. Her fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck.

They kissed for a few more minutes until Bella's phone chirped. She didn't think that she had service out there. She'd have to remember to turn it off next time. He pulled away from her with a defeated sigh. She grabbed her phone from off the counter, realizing that it was Embry.

"Our dad's are here," she said pushing away from him so that she could hop down.

They hadn't told their dad's that they were together because they felt that it was something that needed to be done in person. She had told her mom weeks ago, but that was different. Renee no longer had a tie to her dad and Billy or their friends the way that Bella did.

Charlie sat on the steps of the mess hall while Billy's chair was situated near the stairs. Bella and Jacob came around the corner and Billy saw them first. Jacob had an arm slung around her waist and she had one around his.

"You see what I'm seeing Charlie?" he asked when they stopped a few feet from him.

"I see," Charlie confirmed.

"How long do you think before were in-laws?"

"Not for a long, long, long time," he said giving Bella a pointed look.

"Aww come on Chief, we knew this would happen eventually," Billy reasoned.

"But are you okay with it?" Jacob asked.

"'Of course I am!" Billy said exuberantly.

"You haven't said much," Bella said to her dad.

"I've never been chatty, Bells, you know that. But I'm fine, I don't have any problems with the two of you being together," he confirmed.

"Did I see Riley a few minutes ago?" Billy asked.

"He came in to replace Quil," Bella said with a nod.

"It would have helped if you had mentioned that when you call," Charlie admonished.

"Why? It's not a big deal," she said with a shrug.

"I saw the red head who gave you trouble too," Charlie observed.

"Victoria replaced Leah," Jacob informed him.

"I would think that Sue and Harry wouldn't hire her after what happened last time."

"People deserve a second chance, Dad," Bella said with another shrug.

Rosalie and Alice came up the path and Alice's face brightened immediately.

"Hi Chief Swan, Billy," she said politely.

"Alice," Charlie said with a nod.

"OMG, you weren't kidding," Rosalie gushed just loud enough for them to hear as they passed.

Alice quickly shushed her before rounding the corner to head up to the showers. Bella was glad to have their dad's approval and touched that they were concerned about her well being. Their opinions were important to her, even more so than her mom's. They were the two that she and Jacob would have to answer to if things didn't work out. She prayed that wouldn't happen though.

She felt more comfortable around her dad because he didn't expect as much from her as her mom did. Their personalities were the same and they had an unspoken understanding. She didn't remember why she had stopped coming to see him when she was twelve but she was grateful for the chance to rebuild their relationship.

The horn sounded to acknowledge the end of the day and Charlie jumped in surprise. For someone who arrested people on a daily basis he was easy to scare. Bella and Billy smirked while Jacob hid his laugh behind a cough.

"Do you need to change your underwear Old Man?" Billy teased.

"Can it," Charlie retorted, his face a dark shade of red.

"We need to head up to the cabins but we'll see the two of you at dinner," Bella said before walking away.

Jacob waved before taking off after her. Once he caught up with her he laced his fingers through hers. He squeezed her hand reassuringly and she tilted her head to look at him. He winked at her before stopping at the turn off to the boys cabins. He leaned down to brush his lips to hers before letting go of her hand.

"See you in an hour," he said, his eyes smiling.

She smiled back before continuing up the stairs. She was glad that their dads knew the truth. She'd felt bad for keeping it from them. Now that they knew she could focus on moving forward.

XXXX

Dinner that night was livelier than Bella had ever seen it. Charlie and Billy sat with Harry and Sue at the front of the room. Insults were tossed back and forth and the kids egged them on. It was dinner theater in it's purest form. Colin had traded places with Bella so that she could sit with Jacob but she knew the real reason; he'd had his eye on Jessica since the first day of camp. Jessica knew what was going on and had thus far dodged his eager advances.

Jacob grabbed Bella's free hand under the table while Seth and Brady filled her in on the heated paint ball game that had transpired that afternoon. She used to think that the two of them were complete polar opposites without Colin in the picture to reign them in because their personalities tended to clash but now that they were older and starting to mature she saw that they brought out the best in each other.

As dinner wound down Sue called for everyone's attention so that she could distribute the mail. The plastic bin of letters sat on the table and she called out names one by one to retrieve their letters. Since she went alphabetically Bella had to wait a couple of minutes before her name was called. After the letters were doled out everyone started to collect their trays and made plans to leave.

"I have one more delivery," she called over the noise.

Everyone quieted down as Sue moved to the kitchen door then her eyes landed on Claire.

"It's a very special care package from Billy to Claire," she said before opening the door.

Quil stepped out of the kitchen and Claire exclaimed in surprise. She was across the room in seconds. She was careful not to jostle his arm but she couldn't contain her excitement.

"Just know that he has to go back on Sunday," Sue warned her.

"I don't care," Claire said into Quil's neck.

"Everybody's free to go," Harry announced.

It was Bella and Embry's cabins week of clean up duty so they got to work while Jacob, Charlie, Billy, Sue, and Harry sat on the porch with Quil. Jacob and Quil sat on the porch leaning against the building side by side, shoulders touching. It had been a month since Quil had been sent home and they had talked everyday but having him there was completely different. Jacob could tell by the way Quil looked that the time away had been hard on him. His skin had lost some of it's color, his eyes had dark bags under them from lack of sleep and he'd lost a considerable amount of weight.

"You look like hell," Jacob said to break the silence.

"I feel like it. I've been on five different pain meds in the past four weeks. The first four triggered my upchuck reflex and gave me insomnia but thanks for pointing it out," he said flatly.

"I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't worry about you. So your doctor found a medication that works?"

"I've been on it for a couple of days now. My mom's been shoveling food in me ever since."

"And yet you're not sleeping?" Sue asked.

"I miss everybody and it keeps me up," he said shrugging his good shoulder.

That was when Jacob realized that Quil was even more miserable than he was letting on. He decided to make up for as much lost time as they could. The campers laughter and the music from Bella's iPod filtered through the open windows. Jason Mraz ended and Adele took his place. The boys groaned from the kitchen as the girls sang along while they wiped down the tables and swept the front room.

Less than ten minutes later the girls were done and filed out the door; all except for Bella and Claire saying goodnight as they walked down the stairs. The sounds of Linkin Park floated through the kitchen door in retaliation to the music that the girls had made the boys listen to. Jacob scooted over and Bella sat in between him and Quil. Jacob reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through hers wordlessly. She leaned into him as Quil caught her up on what he had been up to.

"Have you read your mom's letter yet?" Jacob asked.

"Not yet," she said with a shake of her head.

Like Jacob, she wanted to spend as much as time as she could with Quil. Claire mimicked her position on Quil's other side. Claire looked like she would melt into him if she could, her legs were tangled in his and their heads were touching. Bella wished that she could take a picture. Sue read her mind, quickly catching the moment on her phone. Embry, Emmett and the boys came out and Emmett ushered them down the stairs. Embry sat on Jacob's other side and the group settled into silence. It was just like any other night for them and Bella couldn't imagine a better way to end the night.

XXXX

Bella finally opened her letter from her mom when she was back in her cabin. The girls sat in a circle with Jessica, Rosalie, and Alice using the most of the last hour leading up to lights out. Her heart felt lighter than it had in weeks. She hadn't liked keeping secrets from her dad but she had she had felt even worse for keeping something from Quil. Neither she or Jacob had been prepared for Quil's reaction. He hadn't asked a lot of questions like Embry or Leah had. He'd folded his good arm over his chest and smiled smugly.

"It's about damn time," Was all he had said before changing the subject.

She smiled at the memory while unfolding the single sheet of paper. It was one of the shortest letters her mom had written her since it only filled the front and half of the back.

Jelly Belly Bean,

My jaw is half way to the floor as I write this. You pantsed someone? Did you at least get a look at this guy's package? Is he cute or is he puppy food compared to Jacob? Never mind, just send me a picture. His name is Edmund, right? Or is it Emerson? Again, never mind, I'll just read your last letter again. Now on to more important things. I am coming to see you before you leave for college! Yes, that's right I am coming back to that podunk town that Charlie refuses to leave. I'll be staying with your aunt Carol and I know that it will keep you from Jacob but I would appreciate if you would carve some time out for me so that I could see you.

Phil's been gone most of the past two weeks since his team made it into the play offs. The house is more quiet than it's been in years. I got my class list for the year and I'm starting to plan my syllabus for the year. It keeps me busy and from missing you too much. I don't know what I'm going to do without you. Phil says that I should look at it as an extended version of camp but that just makes me even sadder. Is it too late to ask you to switch schools?

I don't mean to worry you but I am going to miss you. Try to make it to see me for the holidays? Don't forget your old momma, alright? I worry about you is all.

Love

Mom

Bella sighed as she folded the letter and put it back in it's envelope. How many times would she have to reassure her mom that she was fine or remind her that she was more than capable of taking care of herself? Renee's change in behavior had started a few months before the school year had ended. Phil didn't seem to be worried about her so why did her behavior raise a red flag for Bella? She couldn't put her finger on it; but she had a feeling that their visit to Forks would shed light on the subject.

XXXX

Bree was a patient person but even she had her limits. She had been dropping subtle hints since the beginning of camp and Seth had yet to pick up on them. It would be easier if she could get him alone but that was out of the question. That was when Beth had come up with the idea to sneak up to the mess hall after everyone had gone to bed. She'd let Colin and Brady in on the plan and all they had to do was bring Seth. She brought Nora along because it was obvious that Carrie was a little too immature to handle what she had in mind. A flashlight beam swung through the forest and the boys stepped out of the trees. Seth was asking question after question until Brady smacked him upside the head.

"What the hell!?" Seth whispered angrily.

"You're gonna get us busted before we even do anything. Shut. Up," Brady said exasperatedly.

"Turn off the flashlight," Beth ordered Colin.

Once in the mess hall Nora unloaded the bag she carried. She lit the candles while Brady went into the kitchen. Beth told the other three to form a circle with her on the floor. Brady came back in tossing something in the air. He sat a soda bottle in the middle of the circle then sat down. Nora sat on his other side a few seconds later.

"Please tell me we aren't doing what I think we're doing," Seth said nervously.

"Okay, who here has never played spin the bottle?" Beth asked, ignoring Seth's statement.

"I haven't," Nora answered.

"Big shock there," Brady chimed in.

"Shut it Williams," Nora bit back.

"We're gonna go in a circle clockwise. I'll go first and the kiss has to last longer than three seconds," Beth announced.

"What if you land on another girl or one of us lands on another dude?" Brady asked

"Then you get a redo and you keep at it until you get one of us. I would never make you kiss Colin," she promised.

"Hey!" Colin interjected.

"Enough, I'm spinning it."

It spun around the circle three times before it stopped on Colin. She rolled her eyes but leaned over to kiss him, quickly counting to three then wiping her mouth with a cringe. Brady was next and kissed Nora with no qualms. She blushed when he pulled away, the kissed had lasted a lot longer then three seconds. Nora was next and groaned when she got Colin after landing on Bree twice.

"Can't I just kiss her?"

"As much as Colin would like that, no. I had to do it; come on Nor, take one for the team."

"You had better not try to french me like you did Beth because if you do I'll use a dull butter knife to carve out your tongue."

She kissed him then pulled away as soon as the three seconds were up. Bree was next and the bottle spun round and round all the while she begged it to stop on Seth. It stopped in between Beth and Seth and Beth nudged the bottle gently with her foot until it was facing him. She shrugged her eye brows at Bree, glad that Seth hadn't seen her do it.

They met in the middle, both leaning on their elbows, the candle flames reflecting in their eyes. Bree moved in, closing her eyes just before her lips met his. Seth cradled her neck and applied more pressure to the kiss. Bree smiled against his lips as someone cleared their throat. The kiss continued for another minute before Brady asked if they wanted to be left alone.

"Yes," Seth said against her lips.

The boys left and the girls gathered the candles and put away the soda before leaving. Now shrouded in darkness they finally pulled away.

"You liked me all along, didn't you?" Bree asked.

"Yep," he answered with a smile in his voice.

Bree laughed lightly before throwing her arms around his neck. He pulled them to the floor and they lay facing each other.

"I made an idiot out of myself. Why didn't you say anything?"

"You did not look like an idiot, you couldn't look like one if you tried. I didn't know how to tell you," he said sheepishly.

"Well, you could have fooled me."

He chuckled before leaning in. This kiss like the first started innocent, soon fireworks exploded behind Bree's eyes and she sighed against his lips. Their first kiss had been been planned and there'd been an audience, they were now free to act on what they felt. Neither of them cared that they could get caught.

It was almost dawn when Bree snuck back into the cabin. She tiptoed to her bunk and it squeaked under her weight.

"It had better have been worth it," Bella said tiredly.

"Bree and Seth sittin' in a tree," Nora sang.

The cabin erupted with laughter, catcalls and whistles loud enough to wake up the girls in the other cabins who came to celebrate with them. The reprecutions from Bella and Jessica were forgotten for now but they were coming, even if they weren't mentioned.