Almost two months passed. And what an amazing two months it was. I spent most of my free time with Alex. I think it's safe to say that he has been the best boyfriend ever, and he's my favorite one thus far. I know all relationships come to an end at some point, and I'm not thinking about marriage right now. But I don't want this to end! It's been so fun and carefree, and he's been great with Jake.

They aren't best friends that call and talk to each other on the phone, but they're guys, and they do guy stuff and talk while Bella and I do girl stuff and talk. Everything was almost perfect.

Minus the fact that Jake and Bella aren't doing the best.

Jake is a very jealous person, and Bella and that weird Edward guy are now friends I suppose. Jake's family and Edward's go way back, and Jake hates him with a burning passion it seems. He didn't even have to say anything to me, because I already told him about the first day of school and how he already creeped me out.

Bella doesn't get the hint though, she tells Jake to 'chill' all the time because they are friends. And I hear her on that one, because Alex sometimes looses it and forgets that Jake and I are just friends. It's just that Alex isn't a creepy person, Edward is. As I have stated before.

Tomorrow is my birthday, I'm going to be seventeen, and it's going to be my best birthday yet because I got Jake this year, and Alex. Alex said he got me something special, and I almost can't wait to see it. When he said something special, it wasn't the creepy 'Oh yeah I'm totally going to do you' kind of special.

Oddly, Jake seems even more excited than Alex. Not that I mind, I just find it weird.

Maybe I'm crazy.

I woke up feeling like I had the best sleep in my life. I turned to look at the time on my clock and see that it read eleven. A smile planted itself on my face. Yeah, today was going to be a great birthday.

My phone vibrated next to me.

5 Messages. 1 Voice Mail.

Oh, this sounded promising.

From: Axel

To: Grilfrand

Happy B-day babe. ;)

From: Momma

To: Baby

Happy Birthday baby girl! Wish I was there.

From: Crystal

To: Flower Girl

Happee Birfday weird kid. 8]

From: Embry Ass

To: Sceet Sceet

Imma spank u 17 times ;D (jk)

From: Terry Berry

To: Laurel

Happy birthday punk. Come get bacon.

I couldn't help but laugh at all the messages. Sadly, my heart sunk at the messing person that I expected to get a message from. Jake.

I called my voice mail, probably Mom thinking her text didn't go through.

"One new message at 12:01 October 2nd 2010," the automation repeated.

"Hey kid. I'm a minute late, sorry. I think you're sleeping, but oh well. I called and talked to Alex, and he said he'd drop you off at five here at my place. Also talked to Terry, and he said it was okay if you stayed here tonight if you wanted to. But bring your own damn clothes because if I gotta sleep outside again, I'm taking all mine with me. I'll see you later, wear jeans. Oh-" Jake's voice paused, "Happy Birthday Laurel."

Defiantly going to be a good birthday.

"Open your eyes," Alex announced. I opened my eyes of course. Through the whole 'Get in the car, close your eyes and don't ask questions until I say okay' I had been wondering where I was being kidnapped to.

"Do you like it," he asked, snaking his arms around my waist. I couldn't help but laugh. Why wouldn't I like it.

"Where are we," I asked leaning back into him.

"Out behind my house, in my parents cabin."

A fire was blazing in the living room, and there was fried fish sitting on the table with lit candles. Weird fancy glasses with what I was guessing Cola in it. None the less, it was nice. I smiled and turned around to kiss him, "Thanks, it's beautiful."

He took my hand and led me towards the kitchen, "I'll give you your real present later. And don't laugh at it."

I ignored the odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. The one that told me to fight or flight because surely Alex was going to ask me to sleep with him or something. But I suppressed it, because he wasn't going to ask for it. I knew it.

The fish was good, and I couldn't deny the fact that I wish I had Billy's secret sauce.

I found out it wasn't Cola, but something even better in the weird glasses; Cola and Cherry Pepsi mix. It wasn't my first favorite, but second. Alex said that Jake actually told him how to make the fish, and what pop to get and such. It was pretty impressive that they worked together to get this pulled off.

"Come on," Alex offered me his hand when I finally finished, "go wait by the fire while I get your present." I took his hand and he escorted me towards the fire. I stole a blanket off the coach, wrapping it around me. Even though the fire was alive and licking the wood around it, I was freezing.

Alex came out moments later, holding a VERY large box. Okay, maybe not that big, but something along the lines of a computer box. Please tell me he didn't get me a computer. I starred at the wrapped thing for the longest time, trying to decide whether to open it or what. What the hell, it's my seventeenth, I can do whatever.

At first, once the wrapping paper was off, I just starred at the box. Trying to figure out what it was. "Is this some weird mini stake cooker or something?"

"No silly, it's a fish fryer," he kissed the back of my head. I looked more closely at the box, not really impressed. I flipped it over, reading the details to as why this was more special than a regular old pan. 'Make from a lighter metal for the perfect temperature to cook your fish to your liking. Comes with flaying knives and all fish materials you could need.'

I flashed my eyes towards the picture on the front, eyes bulging slightly. It was only slightly impressive.

Then it dawned on me that the point of the gift was to let me know that Alex knew me. It wasn't the fact that he wanted to me impressive, just get me something I would really use. Now I wouldn't have to clean the skillet to fry some fish.

I turned back to him and smiled, "Thanks."

And I just starred at him for a while, and tried to memorize that smile.

"Can I kiss you?"

He laughed shrugging, "I dunno. Can you?"

I pressed my lips to his, smiling. One of the best presents ever.

"So I'll see you tomorrow," Alex sighed kissing me quickly. I laughed, swatting at his arm playfully, "Yeah. Don't worry."

Before I could shut the door, I was being pulled by my waist backwards. "Thanks man," something that sounded like Embry shouted. And I was surprised to see Bella shut the passenger door, yelling "Yeah!". I didn't get to see much after that except Embry's butt, because he threw me over his shoulder and carrying me towards the house.

"She has arrived," Embry announced like a tard. I smacked his back, trying to get him to let me go. Then, he started to smack my butt. "One! Two! Three! Four," he started to count. I kicked my leg up and down, and we both fell in a mess the couch. "Shit Laurel! Right in my mojo," he hissed. I scrambled to my feet, trying to find somewhere to hide. Did I really hit him in the 'no no' spot? I honestly didn't mean to!

Jake grabbed me into a bear hug before I could even think of anymore on how to even apologize further to Embry. "Happy birthday baby girl," he whispered.

Shivers went down my back just from his hot breath down my neck. So I hugged him tighter because I was cold.

"Thanks Scabbers," I pinched his arm lightly.

It wasn't until we already ate the fish and were about to open the presents that I realized Quil wasn't with us.

"Where's the short one called Quil," I asked after laughing at one of Embry's jokes. Jake looked away, as did Embry. "He hangs out with Sam and them now."

"Oh God! Not him too!" I exclaimed. I mean, that's two of Jake's friends now, and next thing we know, Embry will be gone too. I tried not to dwell on that thought so much; but on the positive—like Jake will never leave.

Pushing all thoughts aside, I opened the present that Bella placed in front of me. I took in the pretty dark green wrapping briefly before tearing it off completely. Inside was a gag gift of misquote spray. Three bottles. I smiled, saying a small thanks before moving on to the next.

Billy got me a thick sweater, Terry got me a new DVD player Embry got me booty shorts. And Jake punched Embry, and Embry's nose bleed, and I laughed; and so on and so forth all the same old stuff. This was turning out to be a highly entertaining birthday for myself. It was only then when Jake's fist collided with Embry's shoulder for the fourth time, that Jake didn't have a gift for me.

I 'humphed' and looked back to my stuff. Oh well, I'm just thankful that he was here this year.

Once it started getting dark and everything started to calm down, Jake asked me to follow him to his garage. Yes! A gift, just like I thought. I happily followed him. But we didn't go inside. He asked me stand outside with my eyes closed and wait. So I sighed, doing what he asked.

Finally, he slid behind me, pulling my hands from my eyes. "Open your eye Laurel," he whispered.

There, right in front of me, was a dark green four-wheeler.

At first I didn't move. Jake's just yanking my chain. He has to been. His hands shoved at my back softly, urging me forward.

My hands touched the cold plastic softly. Wear and tear had gone through it, the seat brand new though. It was soft and white, and it had the greasy smell of the garage on it, and it drove me insane. Everything about it shouted 'Jake made me for you!' and I could help but smile only hoping to God that it was true.

I turned to him, speechless and pointing to myself.

A half Jake smile played his lips, and I couldn't fight my own smile. My fingers started to caress the metal slowly, taking it all in, while Jake started to explain himself.

"So I know how you were complaining a lot about Bella getting a truck, and you got my smelly shirt," he laughed, taking a step towards me, "and I thought, why the hell not make Sceeter her own four wheeler?

"After I put it all together, and took it out on a couple of test runs, I talked to Charlie."

I turned, only to find him a few feet behind me.

"And he gave the okay to be street legal. All you got to do it stop by the station so he can go over all requirements with you. Happy Birthday."

Street... legal? Like drive it on the roads and it be my mode of transportation now kind of street legal?

"What did Terry say," I asked. Everything crumbled then. Surely he wouldn't let me just drive around on that thing like that.

Jake hugged me, actually picking me off the ground and sitting me on the seat of my new toy.

"He said," Jake smiled teasing, "that if you break one nail, that I loose my manhood."

Oh God.

Without even thinking, I grabbed his face in my hands and kissed his cheek. Everything was a blur as I hugged him jumping up and down, dancing around the damn machine and himself, letting a yip of glee out every-once-in-a-while.

And all the while, he stood and watched me in the same spot.

Finally I hopped on the damn thing, trying to figure out how to get it to work. Somewhere along the line of numerous obscenities, Jake stepped up and and sat behind me.

His hands easily engulfed mine over the handlebars. "You see," he coughed, "it's a kick start. So it'll take a while for you to-to get a hang of it. It has gears, that makes it kind of like a stick shift."

Hands still on top mine, he stood. His entire body pressed against mine, bumping it slightly and awkwardly when he kicked it to life. My back felt like it was on fire, but I pushed the feeling aside because it didn't matter at the moment. Jake's giant feet pushed mine onto the plastic over the front wheels so that his had room.

"This," his right hand clutched mine into the little leaver and bar, "is the clutch. The other is the brake for the back wheels. Make sure you're in neutral first before you kick start it. Kick the shift all the way down, then slightly up once to get neutral. Down is first, then up normally once is second. So on and so forth is third and up."

I tilted my head to the side to see him, smiling at his face that was right next to mine to see the handle and feet. I pressed my lips to his cheek again. I was so damn giddy that I really didn't think about it yet again; I just did.

"Take me somewhere Scabbers," I said turning to stare ahead of us.

And we were off.

We rode around for a few minutes, him gently trying to speak to me as he changed gears and what he did when it happened. Obvious tips and rules when riding and how to check and see what's wrong if the wheeler doesn't start. All in all; call him when it acts up.

We stopped in a giant meadow on the other-side of the creek. I dared Jake to jump it with me on the back, and oddly he did. I squealed when I got splashed, and Jake just laughed hard in my ear. Finally we got to the bottom of the meadow, and the sun was just peeking over the horizon ready to go down.

At that moment, more than anything, I was happier than I have ever been.

With a sigh I let my head rest on Jake's shoulder. A smile played my lips, that formed into a smirk shortly after. I just wish Jake and I could be like this all the time. Just the two of us in complete peace with no Bella or Alex; just us like it used to be.

With us on this awesome four-wheeler that he got me for my birthday.

At the thought I turned again to kiss his cheek, because the excitement was just pouring out of me. Instead I saw nothing but Jake's big brown eyes. Without removing my lips, I glanced down to see what they were attached to, only to see that it was Jake's own lips.

My throat felt like it was going to close up and suffocate me, and my stomach felt like it was going to explode and all my vital organs would sing with glee. Eyes still locked, my breathing slightly escalated. His left hand came to rest on my hip. The moment his burning fingers touched the flesh that escaped my shirt, I gasped and broke the awkward exchange.

"So sorry," I breathed. Jake's eyes grew wide, hand jumping off of me quickly before he met my eyes again. "No Laurel! I'm sorry, I guess we both went to...each other's cheeks." We both blushed, smiling softly.

In all honesty, I didn't mean to kiss Jake, and I didn't feel bad about it because I knew it was an accident, but I couldn't help but think about it. I mean; I kissed my best friend, and I had a boyfriend while he had a girlfriend.

I'm sure that if Alex and Bella found out they'd be okay with it, because it was an accident and all.

But I didn't want to tell them. I didn't want to tell anyone.