DISCLAIMER: Stephenie Meyers owns these characters. We've only borrowed them for this story.
Chapter 3
Destined to be with me? I was confused. I had always known that Jake and I would be together but as friends--family. We never really had many days apart actually. It was like the sun pulling me into orbit whenever we were together. We had to be near each other. But I never thought of him in that way. Or maybe I didn't realize it. I started to look back and remember things that happened these last few months. I brushed them off as nothing when they occurred. Like the time we went swimming at the lake. After a long dunking fight, he grabbed me, paused for a long moment and just stared into my eyes. I felt like I was in a trance, like he was "dazzling" me--as mom always said about dad. And the time we were watching Pride & Prejudice, because I begged, and of course, he fell asleep. I couldn't stop watching him. He looked so peaceful. Even beautiful I thought. And finally, when I went to Europe with Aunt Alice and Aunt Rose to the fashion shows. I remembered how he looked at me longingly, almost sad, when I left him at the airport. The phone calls while I was away. And the long, intense hug he gave me when I got home. Not letting me go for a long time. Not that I minded. It just felt different.
I knew it. In that moment. The memory of that hug--the reunion. How I had missed him during that trip. How I myself felt the longing to be back in his space, his arms. To see his warm smile envelop me. I was falling in love with Jacob. I think my dad noticed too, now that I think about it. He's been a little over protective since then. Always commenting on the time I spend alone with Jacob. And now I realized that Jacob had become apprehensive when we are around dad. He even stopped hugging me whenever my parents were around. I was in shock from this revelation but strangely felt at peace at the same time. Outside I sensed him. I heard his steps nearing the door. I smelled his scent. And then there was a knock…
Same Flashback-Jacob's POV
"Ness, I'm lost, please help me? I have no idea what to say in this stupid speech." She touched my arm. I always forgot how warm her skin was. Almost like mine. We were sitting in my living room talking about my best man speech for Quil's wedding. Why did he do this to me? "Don't worry Jake, we'll work on something" I knew when she said that, she really meant her not us. "Yeah but it has to sound like me, not you, otherwise they'll all know." She smirked at me "promise, it'll be totally "Jacob" nothing else."
Then the phone rang. It was Embry calling about the bachelor party. I didn't want to go to this stupid thing. I knew that Embry was all into giving Quil a "typical" bachelor party. But to be honest, I had no interest. Why couldn't we go to a Sonics game and stay in Seattle overnight or something? But it was for Quil, and I had to go along with what the group wanted. When I told Nessie about the bachelor party plansshe looked annoyed and questioned my motives for going along with it. I was suddenly feeling uncomfortable so I got up and went to the fridge for a beer. Was I nervous---nah, just tense. "Embry and the others really want to go." I answered quickly. "Well, how do you feel, do you wanna go too or did you have something else in mind?" I turned and faced the sink not sure if my face was readable "no, not really. I'm ok with it, just a bunch of topless girls dancing around. Nothin' I haven't seen before." Then she retorted with a snide tone in her voice. "I had no idea you liked that type of stuff Jake, I'm a little surprised." I faced her "whaddya mean surprised? Why does that bother you?" She looked at me, like she was trying to hide something. She looked almost embarrassed, nervous. "Uh, no, no. Of course not, why would it?" she got up and said that she was going hunting with Bella and Edward. I walked a step and reached out to her. I wanted to know why she was irritated or if she was mad at me (but why would she be mad)? She shrugged off my questions and told me she wasn't mad, but I just couldn't shake the feeling, she never really spoke to me that way before. "What the hell was that about?!" was all I managed to say out loud but under my breath.