Chapter 3 – Not them too

As I tried to drown out the same of Bella's laughter, I started to hear the laughter in the heads of the other wolves.

What the hell are you all laughing at? I demanded, feeling like the brunt of the joke.

Finally... Embry cheered.

It took him long enough... Agreed Seth.

I can't believe it was Bella who finally clued him in... Awkward! Laughed Leah, seeming all too happy with my discomfort.

What on earth are you all going on about? I really was not in the mood for this. I needed time to think about what Bella was saying to me.

What's happening? What's wrong with Jake? Sam asked, having just phased.

Leah answered him first; Bella's just broken it to him that Nessie is not a baby anymore.

Bella did it? Awkward! Sam laughed, sending them all into hysterics again.

I don't get it? Everyone seems to think that just because Nessie isn't a baby anymore, I'm suddenly going to be in love with her. It's not like I don't love her. I love her with all my heart, but she's not even 6 yet, no matter how old she looked.

No-one expects you to instantly be in love with her, you big idiot! Leah shouted in my head. You just seem completely oblivious to the fact that she is a gorgeous girl who walks around half naked in front of you and you are destined to be with, and yet you still haven't told her about the imprint. Don't you think it's about time you filled her in? Give her a chance to get used to it before things get to the point when your feelings and hers start to change.

But... I couldn't think of what to say. Was that all that Bella was getting at? She wasn't trying to set me up with her?

Just go and talk to Bella again, Jake. Sam suggested. At least then you'll know exactly where she sees things going.

Whatever. Maybe. I need to think to myself for a while. I'll see you all later. I phased back, got dressed and walked slowly back to my house. I was almost hoping that Bella had gone home already, but I could smell her before my house even came into sight.

She must have smelt me coming too, and came out to meet me. "Jake, I didn't mean to freak you out. Can we take a walk and talk about this?"

"Sure sure" I guess it's better to get this out of the way. We started to walk toward the beach, back to our usual place where we first hung out way back when Bella first moved back to Forks. The silence was far from comfortable though. I didn't want to break it though; I didn't know where to start.

Finally Bella began, "Jacob, don't freak ok? I don't think Renesmee is suddenly ready to date you or anyone. I just want you to be honest to her so she knows where she stands." We kept walking for a while, letting her words sink in. I still wasn't sure that telling her everything up front was the right way to go.

"Do you think it's fair for me to tell her everything though? Don't you think it'll put pressure on her to feel things she's not ready to feel?" I couldn't help feeling that she would love me because she thought she was supposed to. Or that I was just her mum's pervy friend trying to crack on to her.

"Seriously Jake!" Bella replied with a smirk "You are such a girl sometimes! I'm glad you weren't like this back when you were trying to date me."

"I'm not trying to date her Bella! I'm trying to do what's right for her." OMG she is driving me insane!

"But like I said before Jake, what if she does attract the interest of some hormonal teenage boy at school. How will you cope if she starts to date?" Suddenly the branch I had been playing with snapped in my hands and I realised that maybe Bella had a point. "You see, just talk to her. Explain things. It doesn't mean that she won't date other guys, she might not be ready for you for a lifetime yet Jake, but she is your imprint and ultimately, I want you to be happy too. I know you feel you need to do everything in your power to make her happy but I'm her mum, let me take care of that. You take care of you!"

"OK Bella, I'll think about it I promise. Just promise me that Edward is not going to try to kill me. Please!" I begged. This was weird enough for me without her over protective father getting the idea that I was trying to take advantage of my closeness to his daughter.

"Ooooh... Jakey's afraid of the big bad vampire!" Bella laughed. I'm glad someone could find all this funny. I think she could see that I was getting annoyed though because she quickly went on, "Come on Jacob, lighten up a little. I just want you to start living your life. I know for a fact that you haven't been with anyone since me"

"Bella! How would you know that for a fact? I do live my life. I know heaps of girls, gorgeous girls. I'm a young virile man. You think I don't have girls chasing after me all the time?" How insulting that this just made her laugh even more.

Once she finally managed to contain herself, she replied "Jake, I have no doubt at all that you are considered to be quite the catch amongst girls as far away as Port Angeles even, but you can't honestly tell me that you have ever considered dating one of them? I doubt you've kissed any of them. I doubt you've even thought about it!"

What could I say? She was right, but it's just that I've always been so busy with patrolling, school, working on cars and spending time with Nessie. I'm a busy guy. I decided just to change the subject. "Fine Bella, like I said, I'll think about it. I've got to go. I'll see you later, 'kay?"

"Bye Jake" she said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek and disappearing into the woods.