12. The Dive

Jacob's POV

We walked side by side up the mountain towards the cliff's edge. Renesmee was telling me a story and she was really getting into it. She used her hands a lot; waving them around and wiggling her fingers for dramatic effect. It was just one of those little things that I loved about her. Her story was serious but a smile kept playing with the corners of my lips.

She paused for me to respond and she saw my expression.

"What?" She asked self consciously pulling on the edge of her shirt.

"Nothing, nothing. That was a good story." I added lamely.

"Shut up. You weren't even listening." She said shoving my shoulder.

I laughed unable to deny her. I had been too busy ogling at her to hear what she had been saying.

"There you guys are!" Quil said relieved. Claire stood beside him. She was technically older than Nessie, but looking at the two of them you would never guess it. She was in those years where she was changing from a girl to a teenager and even now you could tell she would be beautiful.

"Yeah we thought you ditched out on us." Embry said.

"You don't think I would miss a chance to go cliff diving do you?" Renesmee asked bravely. I loved it when she did that.

"Good point." Sam said smiling.

Renesmee smiled politely at him but I knew he wasn't her favorite. Pretty much everyone knew it but no one really knew why. Claire started tugging on Quil's arm.

"Can we jump yet?" She asked pouting her lip slightly.

"Yeah, sure, sure. Come on guys are you ready yet?" Quil asked eager to give Claire what she wanted.

"Hey Claire, isn't this your first time jumping?" I asked.

"Yeah." She said proudly.

"AHHHH!!" Paul said as he flew beside us and jumped off the edge.

"Show off." Jared muttered under his breath. Even though we could all hear it.

"You ready Claire?" Renesmee asked her excitedly.

She walked closer to the edge and grabbed Claire's hand on the way. Claire looked a little less excited and I thought Quil was going to throw up he was so nervous.

"Dude, chill. Nessie won't let her drown." I said putting a hand on his shoulder.

This seemed to be a new thought to him and the color drained from his face.

"Claire maybe you should jump with me!" He managed to choke out.

"No, I'm jumping with Nessie."

Nessie looked back at me over her shoulder and gave me a quick smile that made my breath catch in my throat. Then she looked down at Claire.

"Ready?" She asked crouching to jump.

Claire just nodded nervously.

"On the count of three. One, two…three!" Nessie shouted as she jumped into the air. Claire jumped with her and together they fell through the air holding hands. Not two seconds after they had jumped, Quil lunged himself off the cliff. He went out further then the girls had jumped, so he wouldn't land on them.

I laughed and looked beside me at Jared. He was also laughing and we both looked over the edge into the water. Nessie had come up with a firm grip on Claire's arm and as soon as Quil saw Claire's shiny black hair break the surface he swam over to her and led her to shore. As soon as they were out of the way, I jumped. I loved the way I felt on the way down. It was like my body was out of my skin and I could just fall forever. I crouched up into a ball right before I hit the water causing a huge splash.

The water swirled around me in little bubbles tickling my skin. It only took a few strong strokes to get my head above the water and I couldn't have had more perfect timing. Nessie was walking out of the water and onto the shore. Her t-shirt was soaking wet and clinging against her waist and chest in a way that appealed to my senses like she never had before. I had always thought she was beautiful before, but this was different. I wanted her. Not only emotionally anymore, but now physically too. She walked up onto the beach; each of her long slender legs exposed by her small black shorts that were clenched to her like a second layer of skin. I could see the beauty and grace of each step she took and even her back was sculpted and beautiful. But what really sent me over the edge was when she shook her long auburn curls in the air which sent my body into an unfamiliar frenzy.

My skin suddenly felt hotter than usual and the undying need I felt for her kept getting stronger. I dunked my head under the water in an effort to try and get her image out of my head, but it was no use. The picture of her walking soaking wet through the sand was forever burned into my memory. I swam quickly to shore, eager to talk to her.

"Are you going to jump again?" I asked running up to her side.

"Well, I was thinking about it." She said smiling at me with the water running down her cheeks.

I smiled back at her but it felt like I had swallowed my tongue.

"Uh…you alright there Jake?" She asked knocking on my forehead.

"Sure, sure."

"Let's jump together this time." She said grabbing my hand and running up the path.

The movement of her body sent the frenzy back up into my skin and it took everything I had not to sweep her perfect frame into my arms and never put her back down. I followed willingly and soon we were standing at the edge of the cliff. She looked at me and wiggled her body excitedly which instantly turned my knees to jello.

"Do you think we could front flip if we were holding hands?" She asked curiously.

"Well, knowing that I can do about anything, I bet we probably could." I said even though I was positive I could do anything if it gave me a chance to touch her.

She smiled and turned to jump. I watched her legs bend the muscles flex in her legs as she pushed off the rock. I jumped about a second after her and yelled, "Tuck now!"

We both curled into a ball and our momentum sent us flying in a summer salt just in time for us to smack the water flat on our stomachs. I broke the surface about a second before she did. I braced myself to see her but there was no preparation for this. She swung her head up as she came above the water and her hair flung backwards as she gasped for air. Unable to control myself, I reached over to her and grabbed her waist pulling her against me.

"You okay?" I asked trying to sound casual.

"Never better." She said smiling.

We just floated for a second before she turned and started swimming for shore. My body instantly swam to follow her, and I knew there was nothing in the world that could keep us apart for long.

A/N: There's really not too much to say. So….enjoy!!

Reviews are very appreciated =)

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