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Here's the next chapter. Thanks for sticking with me on this! Reviews are welcome!


Two months have passed and Jake and I have gotten close.

Sometimes, like now, we go to theaters just to laugh at the ridiculous horror movies. Jake thinks seeing a romantic comedy would surely make him scratch his eyes out. I'm grateful for his distaste for them, I don't think I could endure seeing two fictional people fall in fictional love. It would only remind me of my own bitterness.

"Why do you think they keep making these trashy things," he asked.

"Because teenagers like us will pay money to see the said trash."

"Point taken," he chuckled.

Afterwards, we actually went out somewhere and ate, and I didn't have to cook for once. Although I enjoyed cooking for Billy and Jake, it was nice to be waited on.

"Are you really going to eat two slabs of ribs?"

"Your right. I should have ordered two more. This won't keep me full until dinner."

"How does the res survive with you there?"

"Day by day Bells, day by day."

Most days, Jacob and I worked on our homework together. I was coming over a lot more than my required "business hours" and I didn't want to fall behind. It's my senior year, and I'm barely passing in three of my classes. If I want to graduate with at least a C average, then I need to focus. Jake, who was in all honors classes, would tutor me on the courses I was failing while he rattled on about his un-challenging assignments. I wish I had those types of problems. My homework is normal, mundane, and it's increasingly challenging.

"I don't understand why I have to read this. I already know the material," said Jacob

"You know the movie version, that doesn't count," I said

"It counts if I can pass the test with it," he beamed

"You can't write down Leonardo DiCaprio as your influence. He really wasn't Hoover."

"Could have fooled me."

Charlie's been working like a mad man these past two months so I leave the res a bit later. Jake even stays with me sometimes when Charlie is out late or doesn't come home. Though, the first time Charlie saw Jake sprawled out on our small couch he was miffed, and he was even more surprised when Jake walked out of our bathroom fresh from a shower. It took him a while, but he came to be happy that someone was there with me.

"Hey Charlie."

"Jacob."

"Forks still in tact?"

"For now."

"Good to know."

Jacob left to change after their exchange, but Charlie told him to go back in the bathroom.

"Does he always do that?"

"What? Shower? I hope so."

Charlie groaned. He didn't ask me anymore questions.

Things have been great and I'm starting to feel alive. Jacob has been my resuscitation, but lately I've noticed that he's become a bit possessive. He grabs my hand whenever were around other people, he always keeps me in arm's length or in eyesight if were at his house. As if that's not strange enough, Sam comes around more to check on Billy, but I really think he's here to see if I'm still keeping up my end of the deal. I really don't want him around, but Jake tells me that Sam is a family friend and nothing to worry about.

"Bella, good to see you again."

"Wish I could say the same."

"Always with the flowery words Swan."

"I try my best."

When we get around other guys the possessiveness turns into something more. He acts as though each person we pass has a secret plan to peel me away from his side.

"Are you alright," I ask.

"Yes I'm perfect... why," he responds.

"Because, you're squeezing my hand and you're glaring at every boy that comes within a 10 meter radius of us."

"I see someone has been working on their Math," he chuckled

"You're not answering the question."

"I just want to make sure you're okay."

"If I could get circulation back into my hand that would be fantastic."

However, out of all the changes taking place with Jacob, the one that scares me the most is his increased anger. We were playing his favorite fighting game that I suck at grandly, and when I got in one headshot he threw the controller at the screen, cracking the TV and shattering the game piece.

"What the hell," I yelled.

"You didn't see that?"

"No, I was too busy watching you wreck the TV and break your game!"

"Impossible," he spat.

"What's impossible?"

"Forget it… just forget it."

Everything upsets him now. I mentioned that I wanted to go walking through the woods because I felt that I needed some closure from Him, and I wanted Jake to be with me because I needed his support. Besides… my last walk in the woods ended up with a county wide search party. There's no way I'd want a repeat of that.

"No way, we are not going into the woods Bella."

"I don't mean all the way in, just to this small meadow. . ."

"There aren't any meadows in these woods. Just trees and dirt."

"I guess I just imagined it... maybe I've finally cracked," I said.

"Maybe you need to open a window when you mop. You're inhaling the fumes," he said. What would have usually been followed by a chuckle and a wide smile was delivered with anger and chased with an offensive silence that made me cringe.

The sunshine that Jacob was to me is slowly disappearing behind dark clouds. It looks like there might be a storm but I'm not sure. All I know is that I can't lose him too.

I am slowly losing him though, I can tell. He hates it when I disagree with him now, though we used to debate all the time. Now we don't, we argue a little and shut down when he storms off. Jake is an angry wasp in a jar and me… well, I'm the jar. It's like he keeps slamming into me, trying to crack the surface and break free. Doesn't he know I have cracks and chips already? Doesn't he know that while he is the wasp, he's also the superglue holding this damaged jar together? He's being an ass, but he still has his redeeming qualities. I can see that he's changing into a secure, confident, sexy boy that is turning (almost too quickly) into a man, and I think I like it.

"Why are you staring at me," he asked.

"I'm not staring."

"You are. Do I have something on my face?"

"No..."

"Stop, you're freaking me out."

Yes, he's angrier and he's acting weird, but two weeks ago when it was Valentine's Day he actually surprised me by bringing back the sunshine and getting me a gift.

"It's not much, but I wanted you to have something when we're apart."

"It's a beautiful bracelet Jake, thank you."

"It took me a while to carve the wolf. I hope it looks alright."

"It's perfect."

It truly was perfect…

I felt like a jerk for not getting him anything so I made him 3 cakes and two roasts that day. I think he was pleased. Something inside me stirred when I watched how content he was after his personal feast. He was half lying on the couch, eyes half closed with a content smile on his face.

"I think I want to admit something."

"Like what," he asked.

Did I say that aloud? He looked toward me and outstretched his long arm. I took it graciously and he pulled me down beside him. The warmth from his body felt like a warm fire on a cold day. I didn't remember him being so hot before. I mean this in the literal and the figurative. I place my head on his chest, becoming familiar to our usual conversing position. Jake and I realized that I could discuss things better if I couldn't see him, but if I could feel his presence. I sighed and made a lazy pattern on his stomach. He made a sound at the back of his throat. Was that a growl? Did he just growl, in content? I mentally shook myself. I was finally out of my dark days and was beginning to walk into a new commitment. I was however grateful for the muscular arms that were surrounding me because I was convinced that I would go through with my confession. I was going to admit that I had feelings for Jake. I knew that he had a crush on me a while ago, and I wondered if those feelings still lingered somewhere inside him.

"Jake I hope you don't think I'm being annoying when I say this, but you've gotten kind of… big lately."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean look at you. You've doubled in size, you're hungry all the time, and now your skin is burning up! Do you have a fever?"

He snorted. "Please, Bella your imagining things. It's called puberty, I am 16 remember. I'm supposed to do this. As far as the fever goes, I'm not hot… I feel pretty cool actually."

I shook my head. This is not how I wanted this to go.

"If anything you are the one I should ask questions about."

"Oh?"

"Yes. You hardly eat and your sleeping patterns are getting all wacky again. I thought the dream catcher was working. You seemed so calm before. What happened?" I feel his hand move to the bracelet he gave me. It's been on my wrist ever since he gave it to me.

"I can't sleep. I'm up battling my inner demons. I don't want things to get awkward between us, but I have to tell you."

"What is it Bella? You know you can tell me anything."

A rush of warmth fills my almost mended heart. He sounded like his old self, before his hormones turned him into another person. He pressed his lips to my hair and fell back. He moved on the couch, now completely lying on the furniture with me right by his side.

"I have this feeling. It's in the bottom of my…"

"Heart," he asks, trying to help.

I nod my head. "And it's growing every day."

I hear his heartbeat get louder. His hands tighten around me.

"Tell me Bella," He urges

"It's for you Jacob. These feelings I have are for you."

I never thought silence could be so loud. His heartbeat was still going a mile a minute. Almost like a hummingbird. My thoughts become clouded with worry and rejection. What if he doesn't feel the same? What if he's only concerned about my wellbeing? Why is his heart sounding like it's going to pop out of his chest? Suddenly Jacob moves. I turn to look at him. His eyes are dazed and his mouth is in a hard line.

"Jacob are you okay?"

His arms tighten around me, it becomes painful and then suddenly I'm on the floor. My teeth slice open my lip and the blood fills my mouth, nauseating me. My stomach becomes weak and I look up, I hear the front door opens with a crash and a large figure runs down the path. I try to yell Jacob's name but flood is flowing too freely from my cut lip. It drips down my chin and spews onto Billy's carpet. Jacob runs towards the woods. His body still shaking.

Billy appears from his room. There's something like regret and concern written on his face, but I can't really tell.

"Go on home Bella," He says and he goes into his room. Closing the door. I hear him whispering and I can only assume he is on the phone. How can he be so calm? Jacob just ran out of here like a mad man and he wants me to go home? What is going on? I have to go to him, but I don't know where to begin. The pain in my lip started to get excruciating, so I decided to leave and go put ice on it. Still, I wonder where Jacob went…


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