Disclaimer: Nothing Twilight is mine.

Chapter 5

Bella's POV

I followed Jacob into his house and started pacing the length of the living room while he sat on the couch and watched me. I was trying to figure out how to tell him what I wanted to say.

"Bella, what's wrong?" Jake asked.

"Nothing, just trying to figure out where to start," I replied as I sat down next to him on the couch. I told him everything that happened starting from when Alice and I drove away up until Edward told me he wanted me back. I hesitated there, not quite sure how to go on.

Jacob was quiet as he listened to my story, not interrupting once. He was still silent still when I stopped talking. I looked over at him and was surprised by what I saw. He looked so heartbroken. I wasn't sure why he would look like that. What had I said to break him like that?

"I thought you said he was gone," Jake whispered.

"He is, Jake."

"Are you leaving too?"

"What?" Where had that question come from? I'm here, aren't I? Why did he think I was leaving? Did he think I was running away with Edward? That had to be it. He thought I was leaving and going to where ever Edward had gone. "No, Jake. No. I'm not leaving. I'm staying right here."

"Why? I thought you wanted to be with him?" Jacob looked at me, pain in his eyes.

"That's what I thought too. But not anymore, Jake," I said. "I changed my mind. I belong right here."

"What?" Now it was Jacob's turn to be confused. "What do you mean?"

"Jake, I made a decision that night in my kitchen before Alice showed up. I made up my mind to let you in, Jake. I made up my mind to love you."

Jacob just sat there dumfounded. I'm pretty sure that's not what he had expected me to say.

"But I saw you last night, with him. It looked like you were back together."

"I can see how you thought that," I said. I knew what it must have looked like from the outside. I remember the position I was in when I heard Jacob's howl. I was leaning on Edward with his arm wrapped around me. Anyone would have thought we were together. "But you didn't stick around long enough to see what happened after. Jake, I told him that I would always love him, because I know I will. He was my first love. He'll always have a place in my heart. But, Jake, I told him about us. About what I decided in the kitchen. I told him how you put me back together. How I'm happy with you. I think he could see that I was. He offered to leave again if that was what I wanted. And I asked him to, Jake. I asked him to leave because I want to be with you."

"You asked him to leave?" Jake asked.

"Yes."

"Because you want to be with me?"

Wow, he was really slow today. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because, Jacob," I began, grabbing Jake's hands and holding them in my own, "you were right all along. It would be easy for us. It was easy. So easy that I didn't even know it happened until I was faced with the decision of choosing between you and Edward."

"Bella, I'm not following. What was easy?" Jacob asked. "What are you talking about?"

"Falling in love with you, Jacob."

"What?" There was a surprised look on his face, like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I love you, Jacob." It felt so good to finally say it to him. I was looking straight into his eyes as I said it so he could tell that I meant it. A smile stretched across his face and an answering smile lit up my own.

"Took you long enough," Jake said before he pulled me close and kissed me.