Disclaimer: (twilight and all it's holy goodness isn't mine)

wow...two chapters in two days
okay, i'll give the real reason behind my ultra-quick update
this chapter is in dedication to the twilight movie. who else is freak excited for the midnight showing?
cause i am
i've got my ticket and i can't wait to see the magic come to life
jeez...every time the damn trailer comes on i basically have a heart attack. i'm not sure i'll be able to wait another 23 hours
well, back to the fanfic. enjoy and review

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Cold Shower

"Bella?"

Rolling around to face the voice speaking my name, I took in the sight. A tall lanky person covered in dried mud stood just a foot from my bed. A familiar grin broke across the dirt stained face. Instantly warmth took over my cheeks.

"Jacob?"

"You fell asleep". Crawling up to set against the headboard I gave him a small glare.

"You weren't here when I got back". He started to climb towards the bed, but I stopped him by holding my hand out. "I don't feel like washing the sheets"

"Shower then?"

"Yeah". Then he trampled over to me, ignoring my request and attacked me in a hug. Dirt and mud caked itself all over my body. As he kissed along my neck I could feel traces of mud stick. With all the force I could muster I pushed him back. "You're sick!" A quiet chuckle escaped through his chest.

"I just wanted a kiss". Whipping off a layer of dirt from my cheek I shot him a scowl.

"You covered me in dirt". Running a hand along my neck he chuckled again.

"You can't blame me. What with you looking so beautiful"

"Jerk". He was a jerk. A lovable, kissable jerk. With that thought I bent up and kissed him. Slightly by surprise he sighed against my mouth.

"I thought I was too dirty?"

Adding another kiss to my first, I answered him. "I'm past it"

"Well that was quick". Deciding that he was too messy for this at the moment, I pushed him again. I really didn't want to wash the sheets.

"Go take a shower". A smirk took over his face and his eyes filled with something I'd seen before. I'd seen it many times by now. That boy was endless. Nothing stopped him.

"It looks to me like you could use a shower too"

"Well then, why don't you go first and then I'll take one". Pulling at my hands, he brought me closer.

"Or we could just shower together?", he purposed with an arched eyebrow. Again I pushed him down against the bed, but this time I pulled myself on top of him. Catching my fingers in his hair, he let out a garnished moan. Pleased that I got this out of him, I continued my kisses along his collarbone, ignoring the mud entirely. Another moan escaped his lips.

"Bella…you'll be the death of me"

Again I caught my mouth against his lips. A breathless sigh took both of us over. Almost giving in, I felt the heat vibrating off his body. With a thrust he made his way on top of me. Staring up at him I couldn't help but laugh. Jacob looked like a mud man. Come to think of it by now I must have looked just the same.

"What's so funny?"

"You"

Pointing a self inflicting finger at himself he mouthed a "Me?"

"Go take a shower Jacob". Then adding to it I suggested. "A cold one". With a smile he climbed off the bed and headed for the door.

"For you Bella…anything". And he was gone. Laying on the bed I realized what I had just done. I had forced myself out of a much wanted situation with Jacob. I wanted it, but how could I possibly think about doing something like that right now? With Edward returning and with his tainted words floating in my head, I just couldn't do that. Not to Jacob. He deserved my full attention. So here I sat. Hot, bothered, and entirely alone. With a sigh I figured I deserved it. I should have told Jacob about Edward right away. It should have been the first thing to come out of my mouth. I didn't like that the first thing I had to do when I got back was shower off Edward's smell. I'd literally scrubbed my skin to the bone in effort to shield Jacob from the scent. I should have told him right off about Edward's reappearance. What was I hiding anyway?

…

"This is absolutely insane!"

Leah walked into the room. "Shut up Seth, just do it"

"I'm not going in there!"

"Why not little brother? Are you afraid of the big bad wolf?" A small look of hesitation shot through him.

"No…I'm just not going in there"

Two seconds passed and even I, who was sitting on the far side of the living room could feel the cold glare Leah was giving Seth. Apparently I had missed something important that caused Seth such hate to go feed Mike.

"Sam told you to go, so go! We can't have our hostage starving!", Leah all but shrieked. In response Seth pouted and crossed his arms. The look in Leah's eyes told me she wasn't going to be taking her brothers crap. With a scrunched up face Seth lowered his arms and shot a glace at me.

"Why can't Bella do it?"

"Because Sam didn't ask Bella, he asked you". With that Leah got off the couch and quickly made her way over to Seth. Grabbing him by the collar he reluctantly edged off his cushion. After shoving a plate into his hands she pushed him towards the door. "And don't even think about going somewhere else so you can eat his food!". With a quick glance Seth shot another look of despair at me.

"Can't Bella come?"

Leah huffed. "Why would Bella…", she rolled her eyes in defeat. "Whatever, as long he gets fed"

Figuring I didn't have much to loose, I got up and walked over to Seth. As we headed for the garage Seth leaned back and huffed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks"

"Eh…no problem", I half smiled. Pushing open the door, I walked in with Seth behind me. This time Mike didn't greet me with a grin or even a smirk. He appeared to be slouched back and fast asleep. It really didn't look comfortable at all. A whisper escaped Seth's mouth.

"Thank god"

He walked up to the little work table next to Mike and placed the plate there. Looking over the sleeping boy I couldn't help but wonder what made Seth so reluctant to come in here. Had Mike and Seth gotten into a fight? A muffled ring from the house phone caught my ear and reminded me of where I was. In a cold garage. I'd much rather be with Jacob within the warm confines of the house. A screwdriver rolled off the table Seth had been leaning on and landed on the floor. With watching eyes, I made sure to decipher all of Seth's moves. He just didn't seem the same. Doing absolutely nothing interesting he just watched as the tool rolled along the floor and made its way under Mikes chair. Deciding that I really would rather be in the house than in this cold garage I looked over at Seth.

"I think I'm gonna go back inside, it's kind of cold". With a slight nod Seth gave my permission to leave. Apparently a sleeping Mike didn't bother him so much. Getting back into the house wasn't too bad, even though the wind had picked up today and chills were now pricking all along my body. Without a second to waste I made my way quicker to the door. Then I felt two warm arms wrap around me, snuggling me tight. I turned my body to face him.

"You are awfully sneaky for someone so big", I snorted in a 'matter of fact' manner.

A small grin started to form at the corner of his mouth after I said this, but quickly faltered. Taking my hand he started to lead me away from the door. With a slight pang of sadness I knew that I wouldn't be taking in the shelter of the warm house anytime soon.

"Where are we going Jacob?"

Still the only response was the suppressed grin. I didn't know what to make of this absent smile, but at the moment all I cared about was getting out of the cold. Really it had been dumb of me not to put on a sweater. After he successfully pulled me around the corner of the garage he stopped just in front of my truck.

With a pained expression, he finally answered. "I thought we could talk?"

With that he pulled open the drivers door and held it for me. Sliding across the seat, I made room for him. Once he'd gotten himself in the tight space he shut the door and replaced his hand in mine. Feeling the warm skin against my own sent a fiery tingle along my arm. I guess the heat of the house didn't really compare to this. Jacob was like an electric blanket, that if I asked would be more than willing to cover himself over me. I smiled at that thought. Maybe I would ask him. Instead he started to speak.

"Bella, I've got some stuff to tell you"

He seemed downright put down saying this. This caught me off guard. What could he have to tell me that I didn't know already? Did they find something while scouting? Had someone gotten hurt? Then another possibility shot through my head. Did he know about Edward? He slowly started to caress my hand with this thumb, making small circles that instantly felt like a small burning ring of fire growing on my hand. Although the heat was comforting I couldn't take it anymore. I had to tell him.

"Jake I…". He placed a finger at my mouth, causing me to stop. Then with a small sigh he stopped the ministrations of his finger.

"I think you should hear what I have to say first Bella"

For a split second I thought about just telling him right then and there, but the look on his face told me that what he was about to tell me was important. My throat started to tighten with the feeling of anticipation. He took my other hand in his and held them tight.

"Something happened to Charlie"