Chapter 8:A Declaration of Independence

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.

Bang, bang, bang!

"Please, Jake—open up! I need to talk to you."

Was she crying? Damn, I couldn't take that—not again. I'd sooner have her yelling at me instead.

"I know you're in there. Jake . . . I love you . . . do you hear me?"

What was that? I scrambled to the door, jerking it open. She sailed right into me, her little arms immediately around my neck in a chokehold.

Confused as ever, I muttered, "Cmon, Bells, let's take this out to the garage. I don't want to wake up my dad."

Jeez, the girl wouldn't let me go; I had to hand-carry her to our safe haven—not that I cared. Hell, me care? Not on your life! I was in heaven, and I had an angel cradled in my arms.

I sat down on an old stuffed chair that once died in our living room. I was hoping it wouldn't cave in with the weight of both of us on it. It was in worse shape than the sofa inside the house, if that was possible.

There I was with the only girl in the world sitting on my lap, still crying. I didn't know what to do, so I just held her next to my heart, placing my hand behind her head and snugging it to my shoulder. I kissed her hair, and smoothed it away from her face. Rocking her gently on my lap, I whispered her name repeatedly, and added, "It's okay, honey . . . it's okay. Go ahead and cry. Don't hold back, let it all out."

I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't enjoy having her this close to me, with my arms wrapped around her tiny frame. But I was also wondering, how long this crying was going to last. I wanted her to repeat the words that I waited so long to hear. I wanted to hear her voice forming actual sentences. I wanted to look at her face, for cryin' out loud. Damn, wrong choice of words there.

At long last, her breaths began to hitch in silent sobs. She drew away from me, her eyes red rimmed, and her cheeks, tear-stained. "I got your shirt all wet," she lamented; her voice flat.

I shrugged my shoulders. "So?"

She sniffled once and looked away, gazing at my upper arm. "You didn't call me. I . . . I had to come over here to see you . . . to make things right again, like you said." Bella started absentmindedly fingering the shoulder seam of my tee. I could feel the tingles penetrate my skin clear through the cotton.

"Those roses were beautiful, and the chocolates—how did you know they were my favorite? That was really sweet of you even though I don't deserve it.

"Sometimes I wonder why you put up with me. I've been so mean to you, brushing aside your feelings as if they didn't matter to me. I want you to know that they do matter and I'm sorry that I acted so uncaring. I do care about you, and you need to understand that.

"I never thanked you for buying me that bathing suit either. You could have spent that money on parts for your car. But, no—you took that money and spent it on something that I didn't even have the decency to show my appreciation for. It was such a sacrifice, so generous of you. I'm thanking you now for thinking of me, and for being my friend when I needed one."

I noticed a small smile inching along her lips as she pushed on.

"I was so stupid to think that you had another girl in your room that day too. It took me by surprise how jealous I was. You were my Jacob, and yet I never let you see that."

Bella wasn't much good at expressing her feelings, so this was really a mind boggling revelation. And believe me, my mind at this point was already pretty boggled.

I waited to let her finish, knowing how hard it would be for her to continue if I interrupted.

She placed her hand lightly on my shoulder, and looked up at me with such a sad expression. "I loved your letter, Jake. It made my heart ache for all the pain I caused you. And here you were apologizing to me, when all the while, I was the one who needed to apologize. Can you please forgive me?"

Her eyes began brimming with tears again.

I reached out with one of my fingers, catching the tears before they rained down on her cheeks again. "Bells, please don't cry anymore. I can't stand it. I forgive you. But you need to forgive me too, for going to Charlie. That was the most idiotic thing I'd ever done in my entire life."

Her arms immediately snaked around my neck as she hugged me. "I forgive you," she murmured against my cheek, and sighed once more.

Bella had revealed so much, but I was getting impatient for the one thing I was dying for. I couldn't wait a minute longer. I had to hear it!

Drawing her face away from me, I angled her head so that our eyes would meet. Without hesitating I blurted out, "Did you mean what you said before I opened the door? Is it true . . . That you love me?" I closed my eyes and held my breath, 'til I got her answer.

"That's what I came here to tell you. Yes, I love you . . . and I'm sorry that I screamed at you last night. I was awful to you. You were only trying to protect me. I can't believe I even slammed your head into the wall. Does it still hurt?"

She rattled on about some other stuff, but I zeroed in on the few syllables that got my attention—Yes, I love you. My brain shut out everything else, closing in on those four glorious words—words that would change my pitiful life forever. I was almost delirious with joy.

I finally opened my eyes wide and stared at her in unbelief. My mouth started working too. "You love me? You really love me?" Geesh, how corny could I get? I was sounding like Sally Fields in her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards.

Bella smiled through her tears. "Weren't you paying attention? That's what I just said."

"I know but . . . I just . . . god, Bells, I've dreamed of hearing you say that for years. It's hard to take in. I can barely believe it."

"Believe it," she murmured, as she placed her cheek next to mine again.

I was a pile of goo. Victoria could have come in right then and torn me to pieces. I wouldn't have been able to defend myself. If that girl only knew the power she held over me. My breath whooshed out of me. Hooooh! Be still my heart . . .

We sat together in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Bella was stroking the hair at the back of my head. I was as contented as a puppy getting' his belly rubbed. But then a selfish thought entered my head. I shifted my weight slightly and Bella jerked her head up.

"What ?" she asked.

Those chocolate circles peering back at me, were full of expectation. I had to let her know what I was feeling. Sooo, unable to hold back the smug look on my face, I answered. "Do you think that maybe you could kiss me again?"

Was she blushing? Why was she blushing?

"Do you really want me to?"

Dumb question, Bella. "Do I really need to answer that?"

All of a sudden she grabbed my face in both of her hands gliding her lips along mine. Man, that girl could kiss. I think the heat in my already burning body rose a couple degrees in temperature. Bella was fanning the flames. Repositioning herself, she rose up on her knees pushing herself ever closer to me. My arms instinctively moved to her waist helping her in that endeavor. As she stretched to better meet up with my lips, it happened.

That stupid old rickety chair let out a groan. It shook precariously, wobbled and then crashed to the floor of the garage. Luckily, I took the full force of the tumble since Bella was still holding me tight. I pretty much figured a bruised butt was well worth it.

After the initial impact, the weight of her body toppled me onto my back. When the final shock wore off, we exploded with laughter.

"Holy cow, Jake," she bellowed. "You really know how to show a girl a good time!"

"I do my best," I quipped.

All at once, she gasped. "Oh my gosh, I guess we shouldn't be laughing. You just landed on the cement. Are you all right?"

I smirked at her and said, "I don't know, you wanna take a look?"

She called my bluff. "Maybe later."

As my mouth dropped open at her statement, she took advantage of the situation. Leaning into me, her lips succeeded in their search and rescue mission, and got in a couple more totally awesome lip smackers. Then dammit, it was getting late and she had to leave me—leave me wanting more—way more.

Bella climbed off of me, and I sat up. She turned and began walking to her truck. I ran after her and grabbed her in a bear hug, lifting her off the ground.

I kissed her cheek and inhaled her scent one last time. "Good night, Bells."

"Night, Jake. Call me."

I nodded. That was a no-brainer. I watched as she pulled out of the driveway, following her with my eyes clear down to the end of the road. When she was out of sight, a sense of loss washed over me. I would be counting the minutes 'til she was back in my arms again.

That night, I went over in my mind everything that she said to me. She loved the flowers—and the candy—and the letter. Most importantly, she loved ME! Me—Jacob Black. My life was finally taking a turn for the better. What a relief. I could stop plotting and scheming, trying my hardest to win her love. She was mine—MINE! Now, I had to make sure that she wouldn't change her mind. I'd do everything in my power to keep her mine. God, I was so happy, I just wanted to run around the house, doing my happy dance and yelling, "She loves me—my Bella loves me." How in the hell was I gonna sleep tonight with my heart racin' like a freakin' freight train? Then I decided who cares? Who needs sleep? I was in love and nothing else mattered.

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