Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight but I do own the concept for this story and it's original characters.

AN: I cannot believe that I posted this without proofreading it first. I always proofread as soon as I finish typing every chapter up but my dog had other plans. Damn temperamental weiner dog. I love him with everything I have, but he drives me crazy sometimes. It's fixed now so please feel free to read it again if you'd like.

Jacob and Bella left camp for the weekend right after dinner on Friday night. He'd had to do a lot of begging for Sue and Harry to give them the same weekend off. Asking Jared to switch weekends had been easy but Bella had had to bribe Victoria to change weekends with her. The twenty bucks that Bella had given her had been worth it in the end.

Bella hadn't packed much since everything she owned had been shipped to her dad's. Renee hadn't liked the idea but she had gone along with it since it would only be logical for Bella to stay at her dad's when she had breaks from school.

She had only been at her dad's a few hours when Jacob called her.

"Miss me already?" she asked when she answered her phone.

"I do, actually," he said with a laugh.

"You'll see me tomorrow," she reminded him.

"That's all the more reason to spend all night on the phone."

"My dad's waiting for me downstairs. He found a movie for us to watch."

"What about afterwards?"

"I might call you, then again I might night. That depends on if Eric and Tyler decide to share me."

"How did those two doofeses even find out that you're home?"

"Tyler pulled in while we were getting gas and he told Eric," she explained.

"I can handle them," Jacob said confidently.

Bella didn't doubt that Jacob could intimidate them. He wouldn't have to do much: just looking at Eric the wrong way would make him submit and Jacob and Tyler may be the same height but Jacob out weighed him by at least twenty pounds of pure muscle. If it came down to a fight he would be able to take Tyler easily. Jacob didn't throw his brawn around very often but when he did people tended to move out of the way.

Charlie had already put the movie in when she came down. He started the movie after Bella came in with popcorn, a water and a beer for him. She hadn't had the heart to tell him that she'd seen it a couple of weeks ago at camp. She liked the movie so she decided to let it go. Not much was said except for the occasional laugh from Charlie. The movie Warm Bodies had won Charlie over.

After the movie Charlie had tried to talk Bella into watching another one. It was one that she wanted to see but she was starting to feel tired and she wanted to talk to Jacob again before going to bed. She made plans to watch the movie with him tomorrow before going to bed.

XXXX

Leah didn't have much downtime at her summer internship but she headed for Olympia the first chance she got. She had missed her dad's birthday for work, she wasn't going to miss her and Sam's anniversary too. She'd saved for months to get him just the right gift.

He had bought an Indian bike that spring and had restored it himself. All he needed was a headlight, and not just any headlight would do. He wanted an original headlight for the bike. Finding a headlight for a nineteen fifties motorcycle hadn't been easy or cheap, but she'd done it. She knew Sam would love it.

Sam met Leah in the parking lot and she walked into his waiting arms. She had missed him more than she wanted to admit in the last month. They only had two more weeks of being apart, they could handle that. Then they could continue talking about getting married; all she had do was tell her parents. Coming home to an empty apartment night after night had made things even worse.

He cupped her face in his hands before kissing her gently. She sighed against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck so that she was flush against him. They shut out the rest of the world and got lost in each other. His hands traveled down her neck, not stopping until their hands were linked.

Leah could feel his arousal growing against her thigh and she pulled away meeting his gaze. He gave her a shrug before letting out a ragged sigh.

"Where is everybody?"

"The kids are on a nature walk and I'm guessing the rest of the counselors are at the beach."

"Let's go up to your cabin," she suggested.

He picked up her overnight bag from where she had dropped it before leading her up the stairs leading to the cabins. He was going to take advantage of what little time they had alone together.

XXXX

Beth sat on the dock, her feet making ripples on the water as she kicked them aimlessly. She had chosen not to go hiking since she wasn't feeling well so Jessica had talked her into coming down to the beach with her. She liked Jessica but she didn't trust her the way that she trusted Bella or felt that she could talk to her the way that she could talk to Embry.

Beth had come to camp this summer to get away from what had been happening in Seattle between her parents. She had made some bad decisions in the last two years and now she had to live with them. Looking back she wished that she had listened to her parents when they had tried to warn her that she was going nowhere fast.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't realize anyone had sat down next to her.

"You stole my thinking spot," Embry said to get her attention.

"Sorry. I've got a lot on my mind," she said sadly.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I got a letter from home the other night," she said quietly.

"It wasn't good news? Are your parents still fighting?"

"My dad moved out a couple of weeks ago and my mom finally got the courage to tell me. He filed for divorce last week."

"I'm sorry," he said sympathetically.

"It's not your fault, it's mine," she said with a sniffle.

"Sweetie, I doubt that it's your fault," he said putting a hand on her shoulder.

"If I tell you something, do you promise to keep it to yourself?"

"Of course."

"My little sister isn't my sister, she's my daughter," she said shamefully.

"That's tough luck kid," he said, letting the news sink in.

"I'm only eighteen months younger than you and I have a kid, if anybodies a kid in this conversation it's you," she pointed out.

"What's her name?"

"Dezdemona, Mona. She's six months old."

"Is the dad still in the picture?"

"No, his parents moved not long after I found out that I was pregnant. He signed over his rights not long after she was born," she said quietly.

"What made you decided to keep her? Why not put her up for adoption?"

"My mom put my older bother up for adoption when she was sixteen. She got him back after both his adoptive parents died in a car accident; they wrote in their will that he should be given back to her. They'd had an open adoption so my mom would get pictures of him every couple of months. She was really surprised when she found out that Michael was being given back to her."

"How old is he now?"

"He's twenty two. My mom didn't want me to go through what she went through so she's helping me raise Mona until I'm done with school."

Embry pulled his phone out his pocket and held it out to her.

"Go back to the cabin's and call your mom. I'll cover for you."

"Thank you," she said, hugging him tightly.

He rubbed her back soothingly, feeling the tears that she was finally shedding soak his shirt. She pulled herself together a few seconds later and pulled away from him. She wiped her eyes with one hand and took his phone with the other.

"I'll be back in a little while."

"Take all the time you need," he encouraged her.

She gave him a weak smile before standing. She had thought that he would pass judgment on her. She didn't know much about his family life other than he hadn't grown up with a dad and he had turned out okay. Maybe she could raise Mona that way. It wasn't going to be easy but she felt that it was for the best.

XXXX

Bella ran her brush through her hair quickly before pulling it up into a pony tail. She checked her outfit one last time as she heard the Rabbit pull into the driveway. Her outfit was simple since they were only going to Main Street. Main Street was a two mile strip mall where kids liked to hang out at night. She had spent many summer nights on Main Street in her life, all of those nights were with her three best friends. This would be the first time that she and Jacob would be going alone.

Jacob could be heard downstairs talking to Charlie after he let himself in. Bella breathed in a deep, fortifying breath to calm her nerves. Jacob was at the bottom of the stairs staring up at her as she made her way down. She looked down to realize that her boyfriend t-shirt came down a little lower than her dad would have liked. She wasn't going to worry about it unless he said something.

Charlie stood at the kitchen counter with his back to them as Bella made it to the bottom of the stairs.

"We're gonna go, Dad," she called, moving towards the door.

"Have a good time, be home by midnight," he called.

"I will," she promised before pulling the door closed.

She took hold of Jacob's hand and pulled him down the stairs and walkway, not letting go until they were at his car.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"I was saving myself an argument with him. He wouldn't have let me leave if he saw this shirt."

"You're eighteen Bells, you can wear whatever you want," he said with a scoff.

"That's what you think. When Chief Swan tells you to do something, you do it."

"You have a point. Smart and pretty, how'd I get so lucky?"

"You get me in a way that not many people do," she said with a shy smile.

He nodded, knowing what she meant. Even her mom didn't understand her sometimes and Charlie understood Bella only a little more than Renee. Jacob, Quil and Embry saw the Bella that she hid from everyone else. The sometimes private girl who had a acid laced remark for anyone who dared get on her bad side. Bella was very selective of the people that she let into her life and had trouble letting her hair down without assistance from Jacob or Leah. She wasn't uptight by any means but she could be very standoffish and set in her ways.

Jacob had always been able to see the bright side of things and saw the good in everyone. He wouldn't have let Bella into his life if he didn't see some redeeming qualities in her. He saw her for who she was: someone with a kind heart and an ability to reach out to kids in a way that he hadn't seen before.

Bella trusted Jacob more than she trusted in anyone in their small, tight knit group of friends. He was always patient with her, always willing to listen whenever she needed someone to talk to no matter if it was the middle of the night or if he was in the middle of doing his homework; he always dropped whatever he was doing for her. It had gotten under Nessera's skin and she had been jealous of Bella before she had even met her. Bella had never known Nessera's real feelings about her and Jacob's friendship because Jacob didn't want her to feel guilty, especially since she hadn't done anything wrong.

Jacob parked in front of the diner and was at Bella's door before she could get out. He held out a hand to her and helped her get out. He pulled her to him, cradling her neck before leaning in. The kiss was short but sweet, letting Bella know that he had missed her. He looked down at the white form fitting t-shirt that she was wearing when it dawned on him when she had worn it last.

"Is that the shirt you were when we had the water balloon fight at the beach last Labor Day?"

"Yes, it is," she said with an exaggerated eye roll.

Brady and Colin had brought the water balloons from home and Bella had been their main target because of her choice of clothes. No one had appreciated it more than Jared who had gotten more than a few death glares from his girlfriend, Kim. It would be something that Bella would never be able to live down.

Teenagers roamed the streets, looking for something to do, calling to friends, laughing and enjoying their freedom. Main Street was the closest thing Forks had to a mall and like most malls, shop owners frowned upon loitering in their stores unless you were buying or thinking of buying something.

Bella saw two people walking towards her that she didn't want to see while she waited for Jacob outside the hardware store. Eric and Tyler were determined to corner her and she had to think fast. She turned to enter the store only to run smack into a very solid Jacob.

"You okay?" he asked, steadying her.

"Eric and Tyler found me," she said refusing to look over her shoulder.

"We'll face them together," he said taking hold of her closest hand.

Bella turned to see Eric and Tyler leaning against the window of the bakery next door. Jacob pulled her towards them and kept going, nodding in acknowledgment as they passed. Bella waved then shrugged giving them a 'what can you do?' look. She laughed shakily once they were out of ear shot. Jacob squeezed her hand before crossing the street.

They ended up at the diner. They sat at the counter since there were only two stools free.

"What can I get you two?" Coral asked when she stopped in front of them.

"Iced tea for me," Jacob answered.

"I'll have a coke float."

"What are you, ten?" he asked with a laugh.

"I only have one a year. No place sells them in Florida," she said, digging her elbow into his side.

He shook his head, not able to hold back a scoff. They picked on each other like brother and sister at times, they were each other's fiercest defender when it came down to it. No one messed with Bella without dealing with Jacob.

Their drinks came and they ordered a plate of fries to share. Jacob doused his half in Old Bay seasoning while Bella kept her half plain, opting to not even use ketchup. They talked as they ate; Coral staying close by. She'd been waiting three years for the two of them to realize that they had feelings for each other, no one was more happy for them than her.

XXXX

Sue had roped Leah into helping her shuck corn and shell peas on Saturday afternoon. Sue took the time together to get caught up on what she'd missed with Leah in the last month. Leah told her how her internship was going and what classes she would be taking for her senior year of college. They both knew that they wouldn't have many more moments like this after Leah finished college. She would have a life of her own and Sue and Harry had come to grips with the fact that running the camp wasn't in the cards for Leah.

"So, when do classes start?"

"Monday, my first class is at nine."

"So you'll finish with your internship on the weekends?"

"Yes ma'am, I'll be finished in two weeks."

"What plans do you have after college?"

"I'm looking for any open forestry position I can find in Washington right now; but I'd love to work at Yosemite, the Grand Canyon or maybe Niagra Falls."

"Don't think that you need to stay close to home just because your dad and I want you to."

"I have to think of Sam too, Mom. He factors into my plans as well."

"Have the two of you talked any more about getting married?"

"Not really. He knows that I want to wait until I'm done with school."

"You could have a long engagement, he's already proven that he's patient enough to wait until you're ready."

"I think about it when the time comes," Leah promised.

She didn't know why her mom was pushing the wedding subject on her. She had never done it before; why start now?

XXXX

Sam and Leah sat on the sandbar looking out over the lake. The moon shone on the lake, casting a mirror image of itself on the water. The stars shone bright making for a perfect ending to their anniversary weekend. Sam had been shocked but happy when he opened his gift, telling Leah that she shouldn't have spent so much on him since he hadn't spent that much on her. She didn't care, his reaction when he had opened it had been worth it.

They sat close together, one of his arms resting behind her so that she could lean into him. Their heads were touching as they took in the silence. Sam reached into his pocket, his hand wrapping around the small box that held Leah's present. It had been burning a hole in his duffle bag ever since he put it there when he was packing for the summer. He turned his body to hers, making her pull away from him. He needed to choose what he said next very carefully because he would only get once chance at this. He pulled the box out of his pocket, not letting her see it.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you."

"I missed you too," she admitted with a small smile.

"This past month is the longest we've been apart in the three years that we've been dating and it got me to thinking. I was going to wait until your birthday to do something but I can't wait that long. Will you marry me?" he asked opening the box and holding it out to her.

"Sam," she said with a gasp.

Nestled against the white felt was his grandmother's one fourth carat diamond engagement ring. Leah stared at it with wide eyes. This was the last thing that she had expected to happen tonight. It explained the wedding conversation with her mom, Sam had already asked her parents permission.

"Leah?" Sam asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes," she said quickly.

"Thank God, I thought that you were about to say no," he said with a shaky sigh.

"We can still wait until I'm done with school, right?"

"Whatever you want," he said slipping the ring on her finger.

She entwined their fingers with his staring at the ring. It caught the moonlight and the diamond shined blue, purple and yellow. They had taken the next step towards their future together. Leah considered herself lucky to have someone as patient and kind hearted as Sam because Lord knew that no one else would put up with her. She counted her blessings everyday.

XXXX

Jacob and Bella sat in his car out front of her house at quarter to midnight. They hadn't done anything out of the ordinary that night but as far as first dates went Bella had to say that it was one that she'd never forget. Living in a small town had it's draw backs like the fact that everyone wanted to know your business and there also wasn't a lot to do on the weekends so there wasn't any chance of getting into trouble.

The house was dark but Charlie had been kind enough to leave the front porch light on for her. She would have to be quiet when she came in because he would be up in a few hours to get ready for work. Even though he was already in bed she was going to honor his wishes and be in the house by midnight but she still had another fifteen minutes before she needed to be inside.

Right now Bella was situated in Jacob's lap in the passenger seat. She had given up on sitting on the drivers side when she almost hit the horn by accident. The last thing she wanted was for Charlie to find them like this. Even though Jacob would be there early the next morning to come and get her she couldn't stand the thought of saying goodbye to him. She had never felt like this before and from what he had told her about being in love she had deduced that she was falling in love with him and she was falling fast.

She felt like she was flying sometimes when they were together, she never wanted to be away from him. She thought about him constantly when they couldn't be together and they spent most nights texting until the early morning hours, even at camp. She wished that she could talk to Leah about what was happening but they had been playing voice mail and text tag because they kept missing each other for the last few weeks. It didn't help that Leah's school started a month before Bella's did. It would be harder to keep in touch with Leah once she started college that week.

Jacob brushed her hair over her shoulder, placing a dusting of kisses along her collar bone and throat before catching her earlobe between his teeth. She hissed, grinding herself against him. If he didn't stop now there would be no stopping them from taking things farther. She didn't want their first time to be in the Rabbit. She had more dignity and pride than that. She placed a hand on his shoulder to gently push him away and he heaved a sigh before resting against the seat.

"It's not that I don't want it to happen, because I do. But I don't want our first time to be in the car when I only have ten minutes before my curfew."

"You're right," he said with a sigh, raking a hand over his face.

"I don't expect there to be roses and candles and satin sheets, although they would be nice. But I want more than this."

"I do too. You should go, because I don't think I can resist the urge to follow you inside and take you on the couch for much longer," he warned.

"I'll see you in the morning," she said leaning in to kiss his cheek.

He opened the door and helped her out before unfolding himself from the car. The car was not meant for someone of Jacob's size and she sometimes found herself resist the urge to laugh at the sight of him when he drove. As far as first cars went it served it's purpose even if it was a heap of junk. He leaned against the hood as she walked to the door. She looked over her shoulder and waved before unlocking the door and letting herself inside. He pushed away from the hood and slowly made his way to the driver's side. He looked up at Bella's window to see her lamp come on. She was the window a few seconds later. She waved one last time, not able to hold back the smile that threatened to crack her face open. He waved back with a grin of his own. Things were still new for them but once she started school their relationship would be put to the test. She just hoped that they made it through with their friendship in tact.