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Back to the tent now to see how Jacob saw the whole scene with the fire.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4 – How Can You Say That?

JPOV

I spent the 2 weeks following my talk with Bella debating in my head what to do? Do I tell Nessie everything? Maybe just explain imprinting, but not that I have on her? Is she really nearly ready to start dating?

I think she could tell that something was up, but I just kept on making excuses. Being at her house was ridiculous. Every time I even thought about telling her, Edward would growl or just give me a look, and then Bella would start to giggle.

Edward did manage to corner me once... "What do you think you're doing Mutt?"

"Oh great, we're back to the Mutt thing are we Leech?" I thought we were passed all that about 5 years ago. But apparently not.

"She is too young and you know it. If you can't handle this Jacob, then you need to stay away from my daughter!" He yelled, and the looks in his eyes had my skin itching to phase and rip his throat out.

"How can you say that? You can hear exactly what I'm thinking, so what on earth makes you think you have anything to worry about? Hell, these thoughts wouldn't even be in my head if it wasn't for your wife putting them there!" I had to calm down or this was going to get messy.

"Bella still cares too much for you Jacob. It's not good for her. Anyway, this is about Renesmee, not Bella" he growled again, but luckily that was the moment Bella charged in and got things back under control.

"Guys, just chill out alright. Jacob, I'm sorry I put these thoughts into your head before you were ready. I honestly didn't think it would be you who wasn't ready." Ouch! "Edward, you need to just relax and leave Jacob alone. I may not be able to hear his thoughts but he's still my best friend and I know he would never do anything to hurt Renesmee or force anything upon her."

"She's right. Honestly Edward, I don't know if I'm even ready to even just tell her about the Imprinting part, let alone think of her as anything but our little girl. I think I just need to spend some time with her alone so I can try to work out what is best for both of us." I hate pleading with Edward like this, but times have changed and maybe one day he will end up being my father in law, so I had to prove to him that I am trustworthy and just straight worthy I guess.

He seemed to think about it for a moment and I had a feeling that Bella had removed her shield so that he could read his thoughts. Eventually he said "Alone time how?"

"I was thinking maybe we could go camping. We've never had the chance to go on a proper hunting trip together and I think she'd really like it. I promise I'm not trying to make any moves on her."

"Well, just see that you don't. If I find out that anything of the sort happened, she will be grounded and you will have a broken leg." He replied at last, making Bella smile.

"You mean... you're going to let us go?" I could not believe it. He was actually going to let me take her. This was going to be the most awesome camping trip ever.

When we told Nessie the news, she was just as excited as I was. We started planning it straight away. Luckily the following weekend she had the Friday off school, so we could make it a 3 day trip. We decided to drive into the Olympic Forest towards Lake Crescent. We parked up in an isolated area, strapped the bag to Nessie's back and then I phased so she could ride on my back.

After what seemed about 2 hours we found the perfect spot. It was high up in the hills overlooking the lake. We could base ourselves there and hunt, or go down to the lake for a swim, if we dared brave the cold water.

Nessie helped me set up the tent and we talked non-stop about all the things we were going to do and see and eat while we were here. We'd bought some normal food too, because I prefer it honestly, and it was good for Nessie to keep in the habit. Once the tent was set up, Nessie decided to get changed out of her travelling clothes (Alice's influence on her I'm sure), and I decided to light the fire.

I'd forgotten to pack a lighter, so I thought I'd have a go at lighting it the old-fashioned way. I am after all the Alpha wolf of my very own pack. Surely something as stupid as lighting a fire should be a piece of cake...

10 minutes later I noticed her watching me from the tent. This is SO embarrassing! Just keep going Jacob... it'll light eventually. God she must think I'm a loser...

"What on earth are you trying to do?" she asked teasingly, but I really was not in the mood for it so I just growled something back at her rudely. I should have known that would just make her worse. Just ignore her. JUST IGNORE HER! I kept telling myself that, trying to drown out her voice. Then some of her words make it through to me... "all part of some ploy to get me to fall in love with you"... and I just lost it.

I don't even know what I'm saying. I'm just ranting! This is ridiculous. When I finally stop she's at it again. "Hey! Calm down. All I was saying was that this isn't really the traditional way to woo a girl. Make her sit in a tent and watch you try to flail around with sticks and flint for half an hour when all you really had to do was look in the supplies bag and get out the lighter I packed."

At this point I can't even speak. I just go and get the damn lighter and get the fire going. We sit there in silence for a while. She starts to talk again but I can't focus on her words. Eventually she gives up and goes for something out of the bags, sweets I think. While she is there, I watch her for a moment.

She isn't a little girl anymore. I can see that, sure I can. But just because she has suddenly developed some nice curves doesn't mean... Whoa, where did that come from? Some nice curves? OMG I am exactly what Edward accused her of. I am her letchy old friend perving on her while she tries to get to her sweets! I'm almost a damn paedo!

When she turns to come back, I stare out into the trees again. I can't believe I was checking her out. I can't even bring myself to face her. All I can see in my head is the shape of her hips and the little bit of cleavage that peaks out when she bends over. Her gorgeous face and her beautiful bronze curls flying around in the wind. Her eyes, her lips... Oh damn!

A while later she starts to beg me to tell her what's wrong and I can't refuse her. She is my imprint after all. But I can't tell her the truth so I just lecture her on watching what she says because she could get me into trouble. After thinking about this for a while she replies "Jake, don't be so silly! You know daddy would never try to kill you! He knows you're my best friend in the world and that's all. That's all we've ever been and all we'll ever be Jake, Daddy knows that." And just like that, for the first time since she came into my life, my heart was breaking.

It had been mere minutes since I looked at her and saw her for the woman that she has become, but with those few words I realised that I do want my future with Nessie to be much more than just friends. I want to love her, protect her, marry her and give her anything else that her heart could ever desire. I want to kiss her and run my hands over those new curves and make her want this all too. But with a few short words, my whole world had been ripped apart.

I really couldn't handle this so I made my excuses and went to bed. I know she must be hurt and confused by my reaction, but as Bella said, I need to be happy too. I'll leave Renesmee's happiness to her Mum for a while.

...

Next we'll be back with Nessie and the Day After the Night Before...

Please review and/or give feed back. Any ideas on where you'd like the story to go? I have a couple more chapters done and a general idea of what's going to happen, but Im open to suggestion.

xx