JPOV (Jacob's point of view)
I sighed. I hoped Bella would be ready soon, and finally let go of that blood-sucking creep that had hurt her so badly in the past. I wanted to be with her so much, she was a part of me now. To be whole I needed her with me.
We walked down the beach, the sun lightly warming our backs. I looked at her. She seemed calm, almost happy. I could almost see a smile on her face, pulling her cheeks up at both sides.
'Don't ever change Jake. You don't need to.' She said in a contented voice. She looked almost wistful now.
She was close now. My heart felt like it would burst with happiness. I knew it couldn't, but there was no way I could be happier than I was right now, here with my Bella.
Eventually the sun started to fade, and I knew it was time for her to go home. I groaned. It was hard for me to leave her sometimes, knowing that she is Bella and that trouble doesn't just find her, it's attracted to her. I would run around her place tonight again, to make sure she's ok. No one would hurt my Bella again.
'Time for you to get back to Charlie,' I said, with a regretful smile stretching across my face, 'You should invite him up to La Push for dinner. I'm sure there is some game on that he and Billy can watch together.'
She laughed quietly. 'No it's ok, I really should be going, I have tons of stuff to do tonight anyway. But I'll see you tomorrow, right?'
'Of course Bells, I'll be waiting. Just don't take too long or I might be forced to come and look for you.' I laughed, it's true too. Just to make sure she hadn't tripped or done something Bella-ish on the way up here.
She sensed what I was thinking, and her answer was a light smack on my shoulder. It probably wasn't light, but I couldn't tell anymore, her human strength being what it is.
'See you tomorrow Bells.' Well tonight. But she wouldn't hear me running around her house; I was quiet for a wolf.
'Bye Jacob. My Jacob' she sighed at the last words. Her hands slipped from mine as I watched her walk away slowly, lost in thought.
BPOV (Bella's point of view)
I was lying in bed thinking about the day, and what it was that I needed to do. I wanted to be happy again, to feel something, other than pain. Jacob could be that happiness. I could see our lives together and I see that it's meant to be. If this world was normal, and monsters and fairytales weren't real, I'm meant to be with Jacob.
As my head processed this, I was unaware of drifting gradually into sleep.
'No Edward! Don't go! Please stay, stay with me!' I sobbed loudly as I watched him walk away. He was so calm, his face was unreadable and his eyes were glazed over. He disappeared into the trees.
Suddenly, Jacob was behind me whispering in my ear, 'Bella, my Bella. Pick me Bella. Let go. Just let go.'
I turned around to find a huge red wolf growling at me, its teeth snapping at my legs. Ready to bite, to kill.
I woke screaming, my hands paralyzed with fear beside me. It was only a dream. Jacob would never hurt me, I knew that. That still didn't stop the fear from crawling slowly down my spine.
Get with it Bella!
I had to stop going insane all the time. For Charlie's sake at least, and for Jacob, I knew it wasn't easy for him watching me go to pieces constantly. I pulled my arms around me to keep myself together. I could do this.
I looked at my clock, 7a.m. It was early to get up for a Saturday but I didn't mind, better than go back to my dreams which terrified me more than reality at this point.
I got up and looked out my window. I could see the sun peeking out from between the clouds. This made me feel almost hopeful that the day was going to turn out alright after all.
I walked over to the mirror. Probably time to do something about the mess of hair that framed my head. I was thinking about Jacob as I was brushing my hair.
What should I do about this? I can't go on in limbo forever.
I sighed. I was going to have to make a decision pretty soon. I really wanted this to work out, me and Jacob. He was my best friend, my world for the moment. If it didn't work out with him, there would be no one else to stitch me up again. Jacob had been there when Edward left but who would be there if Jacob left me? The imprinting thing. What if that happened? Jacob couldn't control it, but he would have to leave me. And then I would be alone again. I shuddered at that last thought.
I quickly got dressed in some old jeans and a grey shirt I found in my closet. I looked acceptable. It would have to do for the day.
I made my way out to the truck, shouting at Charlie as I went by, 'Going to see Jake! Be back tonight!' He answer was a grumble. He was busy watching TV so I would take that as a yes.
I drove my truck slower than usual, unwilling to wake Jacob up too early. He would probably jump at the familiar roar of my truck. And I know he hasn't been getting a lot of sleep lately. I was going to give him as much as I could. I also just needed a chance to think things over again, to make sure the path I was taking was the right one. It wasn't the path that was difficult, it was just the decision. I usually stuck to decisions once I made them.
As I pulled up outside his house I saw his head pop up in the window. Of course he had heard me coming; he would have been listening for it anyway.
'Hey Bella! You're lucky; I was just about to go out looking for you. Nah, it is kind of early you know, geez, not going to let a wolf sleep much are you?' Jacob said playfully as he bounded out of the door to reach me in a few effortless strides.
'Hey Jake, I'm sorry that I came so early it's just… well I could go and come back later if you want.' I said even though I knew this question was rhetorical, Jacob wouldn't want me to leave.
His eyes widened in surprise as he registered my answer, 'No! Don't go Bella, you only just got here! I was only kidding about the early thing, I don't mind at all, whenever you come here is good for me, I promise.' His enthusiastic smile made me smile in automatic response. I loved it when he smiled like this; he was my Jacob when he was like this.
'Well… okay, I won't leave. But consider yourself warned wolf boy! Any more jokes like that and its straight home for me.' I said teasingly.
'Oh well in that case…' Jacob was suddenly serious faced, 'No more jokes for the rest of today then, don't want to send you home by accident you know,' I could sense the joke in his words, Jacob was hardly ever serious with me.
'Well fine then, we'll just be serious Jacob and serious Bella for today, if that's what you want. So… what do serious people talk about then?' I laughed at my words but my head was spinning… there were a few serious things I would like to discuss actually.
It seemed that Jacob was thinking the same thing. His eyes were intense again. I knew he didn't want to push me.
'Jake I… I just wanted to tell you that…' I wasn't sure how to word this; I was never really good at outward emotional displays, a trait from Charlie I guess, 'Jacob I wanted to say that, I pick you. I'm sick of hurting all the time and holding on to this…this thing inside me. It's about time I let it go. I pick you Jake. I want you.' I looked down as I said the last words, suddenly nervous about his response although I already knew what it would be.
His eyes were at first confused, then slowly, his face turned into the happiest expression I've ever seen him wear. His smile stretched almost impossibly across his face as he grabbed me in another one of his vice-tight hugs.
'Whoa… Jake… Can't… Breathe!' I managed to gasp out.
He put me down as he muttered 'Sorry Bells, I didn't mean to hurt you…' His face didn't look very sorry at all, his smile lit up all his features again. He lent down and carefully rested his hands on my cheeks. He looked into my eyes as if he wanted to stay there forever. I wouldn't mind if he did.
Suddenly, his lips were very urgent on mine. Jacob wasn't being careful with me the way Edward was, he didn't have self control like Edward did either. It felt weird, but it was like a drug. I just wanted more. I pulled him closer to me. My head was spiraling out of control.
He was my Jacob, and I could keep him now.
JPOV (Jacob's point of view)
She picked me. She wants me. Could a person really be this happy? Well I wasn't a person, technically, so maybe it was possible for me. She wants me! My Bella… I sighed.