Disclaimer: Don't own Twilight,

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and I wish you a wonderful New Year. I am going away for thirteen days where I will be technology-less (How will I survive!?) but I promise an update as soon as I get back.

Just a warning that this has alcohol, party scene references and suggestive language. Nothing graphic at all, but still a warning. 13+

It was hard to remember the perils of this morning when I was surrounding by so many hot, young people, all with the same intention of Seth and I; to let go for the night. Seth had driven us out to Port Angeles, after leaving Charlie a note, where he knew of a great little club. I had no idea such a small town could be so amazing by night. The club had just four chambers, but they were fantastic. The floor was hit with lights that created an effect of moving water, which was a little trippy. The roof, however, was lit by a sequence of blues, all flashing very suddenly one after the other. The effect made your brain go into overload, and I loved it.

I took another sip of my drink.

"Everything cool Bells?" Seth mumbled as he found me.
"Yeah, just having a quick break." I winked at him. He hadn't left me alone much all night, which was probably a good thing.
I took the last gulp of my drink.
"How many of those have you had?" He asked, nodding his head at my drink.
"Uhh..." I said, counting in my head. "Three."
Seth's eyes widened. "And you aren't even a bit tipsy for a tiny thing." I just smiled at him.
"How many have you had?" I asked.
"Six, it takes a lot to get a werewolf drunk."
"We'll see about that, won't we?" I said, giving him another wink.
"Enough chat." He said, grabbing my hand and pulling me onto the dancefloor. I hadn't felt right to dance very close with anyone that night, it had just felt wrong, for some reason. But I could with Seth, he was a good dancer, and I felt unbelievably comfortable with him. We danced the night away and I felt carefree and beautiful as ever.

Three shots later, and I woke up on a amazingly comfortable bed with what felt like a brick on my head. A brick that was pounding up and down on my head. Who would do that? Smash a brick on someones head?
"Stop it," I groaned, rolling over. The brick came with me, this time pounding my head from the side. "Oi," I slurred. "Cut it." They didn't stop.
I managed to crack my eyes open the slightest to see no brick, just a giant, tanned back. I had to shut my eyes again because of the light, but I had seen enough. My mind wasn't working very fast or logically, but I knew well enough that this lovely familiar feeling was a hangover, and that huge back that was facing me, was Seth's. I was conscious enough to freak out in my mind. I tried desperately to remember last night, but it was gone. I groped the edges of my last memories, as if I could pull out some more. No. I couldn't have. I wouldn't have.

Oh, who are you kidding Bella? You know what a few shots of tequila does to you. And you also know the kind of effect Seth has on you.

No, that was wrong. This was wrong. It was all wrong. Seth is Jacob's brother, for crying out loud. I would have had some sense, some morals. Just a tiny bit at least. I wanted to slap myself when I realised I was a little disappointed that I couldn't remember being with Seth. I was actually disgusted with myself.

I pulled myself together and managed to sit up, opening my eyes. Sure enough, there was Seth, the brother of the boy I loved, lying shirtless and beautiful next to me on a huge queen bed. I didn't dare peek under the sheets. We were in what looked like a cosy little bed and breakfast. The curtains were a deep mahogany that matched the carpet, and was covered with beautiful antique furniture. When I noticed a white door not too far away, I slid out of the bed towards it.

I looked a mess. My hair was a huge disarray of ringlets and I had a little mascara smudged out the corner of my eye. But that wasn't the worst part; the worst part was that I was wearing my pajamas. I was donned in my little blue tank top and matching pants that I had packed before Seth and I left and I could only hope, that I had put them on myself. I washed my face in the little ensuite and took two advil before padding back to the bed.

I took me awhile before I got the will to slide back in, careful not to disturb Seth. I stayed in a sitting position though, there was no way I was going back to sleep. I let my head fall into my hands. I was royally screwed. I wished Seth would wake up and tell me that nothing had happened; that we had merely come back to the inn and fallen asleep, but I knew this was not true.

The weight in the bed shifted as Seth rolled over in his sleep. He was facing in my direction now, and I couldn't help but soften a little bit. His face was peaceful, and there was a hint of a little smile upon his lips. I knew I was attracted to him, and that was what scared me. But the pull to him was usually smothered by something more powerful. Jacob.
His hair was mussed and tangled, and I wondered how it had gotten so. It fitted too well with my tangled ringlets.

Before I could find anymore reasons to despise myself, I threw my head back into my hands, trying to nurse the headache and push all my worries away. It wouldn't work.

"Bella?" Seth groaned. I looked up to see him peering at me through slitted eyes. "What are you doing?" He asked, before sitting up. He stretched his huge arms, his biceps flexing, and threw back his head as he yawned. His eyes were fully open and alert; he wasn't even hungover.
"What a night, hey?" He said, laughing.
"What a night?" I repeated, incredulous. "How can you say that Seth? What we did was wrong. Way wrong. And what's worse is Jacob is going to see it all, played out before him like a little movie." I must have looked barking mad, the way I was pulling at my hair and rocking backwards and forwards.
Seth looked shocked, even slightly hurt.
"Bella what are you talking about?" He asked calmly.
"This!" I said, gesturing between me, him and the bed. "We..." I couldn't bring myself to say the right words, so I avoided them. "We got together." I hissed.
Seth let out a hearty laugh. It angered me. "Why are you laughing!?" I cried. Seth pulled me down to him and wrapped his arms around me.
"You are actually the sweetest, craziest person I have ever met, Bells." I shoved against him, even when I knew it wouldn't do anything.
"Get off." I said, I was shaking.
"Bella, you need to calm down so I can tell you what happened." He said. I peered up at him eagerly.
"Nothing." He said simply.
"What?" I asked, blinking stupidly.
"Nothing happened. Not that it wouldn't have."
"What is that supposed to mean?" I demanded.
"You had had way to much to drink Bells. You're lucky I have superb alcohol tolerance and moral fibre because otherwise I might have given into you. You're very... persuasive."

I groaned and brought my hands to my eyes. "How embarrassing." I mumbled.
"Hey, you weren't yourself." He said. "And I am amazingly gorgeous, so I'll give you that one. But nothing happened. I'm not stupid Bella, and I'm also not a backstabber. I would never jeopardise you and Jacob, Jacob and I or even me and you. I value those relationships way to much to give in to my instincts, beautiful as you are."
"Thank God." I sighed.

"You silly girl. You really think I would do that?" I shrugged, he continued. "I brought you back here when you were basically too drunk to walk. I know the couple that own this bed and breakfast, they used to live on the Res. Mary, that's the woman's name, dressed you. I knew you would be ashamed if I had done it, and I didn't want to violate your privacy. Then I slept over here," He pointed below himself. "And you slept over there." He said, pointing to the farthest side where I was. "We were good kids." He finished with a smile.
"Thank you so much, Seth. You are a true friend." I said, squeezing him in our hug.
"No worries Bells, none at all."
"And there is no memories I wouldn't want Jacob to see?" I pressed, just in case.
"Well, apart from us making out-- hey I'm joking!" He quickly added when he saw my face. "It's a joke Bella, calm down."

He gently let go of me and got up, walking towards the little bathroom.
"Shower, food, then go?" He called from the bathroom.
"Sounds good." I answered.

And with that, I realised just the kind of friend I had in Seth. One that I wouldn't want to ruin, whether that included Jacob or not. Seth really was a beautiful person.

***

"Home sweet home." Seth said as he pulled up in his driveway. He had promised me that if I came back to his, I'd be able to see Jacob.
"Uh Seth..." I began cautiously. There was one big problem that might arise out of me turning up in the Clearwater home.
"Leah isn't here." He said, without even needing me to ask. I sighed a sigh of relief.
"No-one is angry at you Bella. But no-one is angry at Leah either, you were both as bad as each other. Leah was just physically superior, and there is no point getting angry at her for phasing." He sighed. "We just need to put it behind us."
I nodded in agreement, and stepped out of his truck.

Sue was in the kitchen with Emily, cooking what looked like a smorgasbord of food.
"Mmm, smells good Mom." Seth said as he walked in.
"Good morning Seth, Bella." Sue said, giving me a warm smile. This surprised me. I gave Emily a hug; we had caught up just once since I got back. We had avoided all topics relating to the past.
"Hey Sue." I said brightly.
"I hope you're hungry..." She said.
"Actually we just--"
"Starving actually!" Seth interrupted. Seth and I had just enjoyed a early breakfast of all you can eat buffet before setting off; we had decided to get back early.
"Bella... there is someone waiting for you in the living room." Sue said kindly. I nodded and headed in the direction of the Clearwater living room.

There, sprawled on a giant couch, was Jacob Black. However, he was fast asleep. The sight brought a huge smile to my face. I sat beside him, brushing a few stray hairs out out of his closed eyes. He looked so beautiful when he slept, and those lines he had acquired since I left seemed to smooth out. I laid my hand against his chest, not wanting to wake him, but still wanting to touch him.

The only sound in the room was Jacob's deep breathing. I watched my hand rise and fall with his chest for a good five minutes. He was wearing a plain black shirt, which was surprising as he usually didn't wear one at all. I suppose it was because he wasn't staying at his own house, such a gentleman. His shorts were nearly rags, and I made a mental note to find him some more.
"What you looking at, hey?" He croaked. I jumped.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" I asked gently. He blinked slowly.
"Not at all." His long arms came around me, and pulled me up on the couch with him. This felt good, not just physically but mentally. I had been a little scared of how Jacob would react to seeing me next; whether he would regret our midnight kisses.

We lied there silently, just hearing each other breathing. His fingers drummed lightly on my hip, and I suspected he wanted to say something.
"Are you angry that I left with Seth last night?" I whispered. He was silent for a moment, and I liked that he was actually giving my question some thought.
"Bells, I trust Seth with my life."
"Good, you can. He is honestly one of the most wonderful people I have ever met, he's such a good boy." I hoped Jacob caught the meaning in my words.
"He can be naughty sometimes, too." Jacob laughed. "He loves you Bella." He said, suddenly serious. "But it doesn't worry me, because it's entirely innocent; he considers you his sister, it's actually kinda cute."
"I love him too." I whispered, secretly wishing I could tell Jacob the same, but it felt way too soon.

Jacob fell silent again, but I could feel his tense shoulders behind me.
"What do you need to say Jake?" I asked.
I turned in his arms to I was facing him. "I just wanted to tell you to stay away from Leah." He said sternly. His eyes looked fierce. Was he angry at me?
"Right." That was not what I had been expected. What had I been expecting? "It's not my fault she went skitz at me." I mumbled.
"Oh don't be childish Bella, you could have handled it better. I saw it all in her mind."
"What!? She was the one--"
"You're still being childish Bella. She was a bitch, you were a bitch. You were both wrong."
"Whatever Jake." I said, rolling out of his hold and heading back to the kitchen, feeling like a brat.

Bit of a fun chapter. Bit of character development. Seth's so adorable, hey?

Anyway, I will see you all in 13 days after I've soaked up the sun and the surf.

Au revoir!