Loretta's POV

For someone so selfish, my sister is very perceptive. She, of course, teased me about my date with Paul. One thing I should mention about myself is that I blush very easily. I hate it! My mother used to say she was jealous, "Loretta, you are lucky- you have a natural blush. Most women would kill for that"

I would simply respond with a, "They don't need to kill, they can have it". She would walk away in a huff about how I was ungrateful with my God-given gifts. Sure, I don't need to use blush but I also can't hide my feelings. This very problem came into play on Wednesday. Paul called and asked me to go to Port Angeles with him. He had earned some extra money and needed to go clothes shopping. He said he needed a female's perspective. While I was getting ready to go, Thea came in my room.

"Where are you going?"

"Paul is picking me up, he needs some help shopping"

"You hate shopping and it's not like you have a very unique style"

"I hate shopping with Mom, or hated, and my style is fine. I am sure he is just looking for a second opinion."

"Or just wants to spend time with you"

"That's not it"

"Face it Loretta, you have someone that likes you. Why aren't you celebrating? Finally someone to take my sister!" she said dramatically.

"Whatever Thea" Whatever Paul felt for me was going to pass. If he felt anything at all. Until then I was going to take every moment I could with him. That was going to hurt me later, but for now it's all I have.

"Are you in love with him?"

"I most certainly am not! I haven't known him long enough for such a declaration" Declaration?

"You should know right away"

"Well not all of us look at things through an artist eyes," I said doing finger quotations around the word artist. She huffed and left. God, she always knew exactly what to say to upset me. I walked downstairs just as Paul pulled up. I ran out the door, through the rain, into his car.

"Hi" I said, a bit out of breath.

"Hey! Thanks for doing this, especially in this weather" he said, brushing a raindrop off my cheek. Paul chatted happily for the ride to the store. I listened intently, responding when appropriate. We got out of the car and he was quickly at my side, shielding me with his jacket. We wandered around the store and I picked out things here and there. I secretly chose some things that he would look goofy in. We walked towards the dressing room.

"Okay, you have to show me everything, okay?"

"Sure Loretta" He put on the first three outfits, which all looked great on him. I heard a growl when the fourth outfit was being put on. "What is this?"

"What?" I said innocently. He walked out in a dress shirt and a pair of dark wash pants, with a chain on them. Totally not his style.

"You and I both know I would never wear this"

"Hmm, I don't know where that came from"

"Funny" he turned around and walked back into the dressing. Suddenly he came back out.

"Pink?"

"I hear real men wear it"

"Nope, just guys that are worried about their masculinity"

"And you are not in that category?"

"Have you seen me?"

"Yup" He smiled at me and walked back into the room. He bought three pairs of shorts and two shirts in all. They all looked great on him and I wasn't being biased.

"You hungry?" I nodded. He took my hand, which of course made me blush." What?"

"What?"

"You are blushing"

"No I'm not"

"Yeah- you are"

"It's just hot in here" I said convincingly. He smirked and we walked into the sandwich shop. We chatted over subs. He asked me questions about myself and I asked him some. I talked about my old school. He talked about his reservation. He dropped me off at home and kissed me on the cheek. I ran into my house before he could see my burning face. I thought I heard him laugh.

Friday I found out that Thea was going on a date with Jacob. She looked so nervous, that I almost felt bad for her. However, this was payback. Before she left she said, "There is a present in the front room for you. I think one of dad's friends sent it" I ran downstairs excitedly. There was something big covered with a note on top. All it said was – Your parents would have wanted you to have this. I took the sheet off the top and was met with a grand piano. I ran to the bathroom and threw up. I cried on that floor until I had no more tears.

Thea's POV

I may have teased Loretta when she was getting ready for her first date with Paul, but I had no idea that it could be so gut wrenching. There were so many possibilities to do with one's self I didn't know where to begin. Probably finding clothes that weren't covered in paint was my first step. Why did I have to have a messy hobby? I couldn't knit? No I had to paint and get it everywhere in the process. Holding up the tenth zillionth shirt with paint splatters down the back I gave up, I didn't even know how that got there. I would just raid Loretta's closet.

I eventually settled for tastefully paint spattered jeans and a grey mini dress. Plus my pirate boots, they had gotten me through some hard times. I braided my hair and actually tried with make up; third time's the charm.

I ran down stairs and grabbed the keys off the hook.

"Can I have the car? Thanks bye!"

"Whoa who whoa, hold up there missy. Where do you think your going?"

Missy? Loretta couldn't be serious?

"Out."

"Out with who?"

"No one."

I must have said my answer to fast because she got this looking in her eyes. The 'I know where you're going and I find it highly amusing that you think you can get away with it' look. It was one of her very own specially crafted for moments such like these.

"Is it a certain friend of Paul's that may or may not of caught you when you fell?"

"No!"

"Tell me about it when you get back?"

I was not going to - I sighed it was a lost battle anyway. "Alright."

"Have fun, be good."

Stupid older sisters.

Jacob met me on First Beach promptly at 8:30, and instead of leading me to the other car that was parked in the lot, handed me a helmet and helped me mount his motorcycle. God I was in love with him already. Wrapping my arms around his torso I rested my chin on his broad shoulder.

"So where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"I love surprises."

"I thought you might."

And we were off, whizzing by beaches and forests until we reached… Candyland. How far did we go?

"Candyland?"

"You'll like it I promise."

He got off his bike first and instead of helping me down he completely picked me up.

"Whoa!"

He just laughed, and pulled me along. When we past through the large wooden gate I stopped short. It was a 20's style amusement park, complete with original merry-go-round.

"Jacob this…it's perfect."

"I was exploring one day and I found it, then when I met you it reminded me of you."

"What do you mean exploring? What were you doing this far from Forks?"

A weird emotion passed over his face before he replied, "I've got the bike, why not go explore." Then he smiled and all was well again.

"Speaking of exploring…"

I was the one who did the pulling.

-

I had never had a better time in my life. In those two hours I spent with Jacob a smile never left my face. We went on the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, Jacob even won the strength test. Not that I was surprised. And to top off this wonderful night he even let me drive his motorcycle, though major puppy dog eyes were required.

We stopped at the beach, and Jacob practically jumped off the bike. He did look a bit green.

"You alright?" I asked taking off my helmet

"Yeah fine, just a little bit dizzy."

"I'm not that bad of a driver."

"No of course you're not, just a bit of a led foot." He took a deep breath, "there all better now."

"I'm sorry I made you nauseous. I tend to have that effect on people when we're in the car. I swear the only reason I passed my driving test was because my mom paid him off."

"Eh no worries, I heal fast anyway."

"Ok good," I didn't want to say good-bye; I wanted this to last forever. "I should probably go, it's getting late."

"Yeah. When can I see you again?"

Whenever you want, every second of every day till the day that I die! "I don't know. I don't have much planned for this weekend I have a biology project to put off so…"

"How 'bout tomorrow around 2, I'll bring my homework, we can put it off together."

"Excellent plan, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah see ya." He bent don't and kissed the corner of my mouth. I had to bit my lip to keep from screaming. His put on his helmet and got back on his bike.

I made my way to my car and let out a silent scream.

"You know I can see your reflection in the window right?"

I span around so fast I nearly toppled over. "That's fine. I wasn't doing anything anyways."

He just chuckled and sped off.

If I didn't stop acting like a 13 year-old fangirl he would stop finding it cute, smarten up and leave me for a more intelligent woman with larger breasts. Keep it all in and gush to Kevin, that was the plan.

I got in the car and started toward my house. Crap what was I going to wear tomorrow.