The bell would ring any minute and I was inching my way out of my seat so I could make a beeline to my truck. Mike had been trying to 'ask' me something all day and I dreaded to find out what it was he wanted. It was a daily occurrence, Mike hitting on me or trying to get me to pay attention to him which I fought. I knew Jessica had a thing for him and I wasn't trying to get in between them, even if he had no idea she existed. 3:15 the bell rang and I was the first one out the door and down the sidewalk, I'd grabbed what I needed for homework that night before class and headed for my trusty truck.

I was just about to slam the door when Mike caught it in his hand, "Hey Bella!"

I groaned inwardly and buckled my seat belt over me to make a point that I needed to leave. "Hey Mike, I'm in a hurry."

"Oh, I'll be quick. Want to go to the movies with me Saturday night?"

I started to shake my head but he nodded, "Yeah, I mean we could get Angela and her boyfriend. You know, go as a group so it's not awkward?"

I could go for that, "Can we invite Jess too?"

"Well, that's kind of throwing it off balance?"

"If it's a group date, the more the merrier. Right?"

He realized I'd found a loop hole and nodded, "You are right, yes. OK Saturday at 8 I'll pick you up."

"No, I'll meet you there. I have other plans before hand." I lied, this wasn't something I enjoyed doing but prolonging my time with Mike wasn't something I wanted to do either.

"OK? Well see you."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

"Hey Jake." I slung my bag onto the desk next to the crate and began getting out my Algebra homework. "Working hard?"

He was focusing on something rather hard and I don't think he heard me come in so I cleared my throat, he didn't move. He was hunched over his work bench tapping on the top with his pencil, curious I walked up behind him, lightly touching his back. However I scared him, he jumped, pushing me slightly backwards and my foot got caught on his air compressor leg and I began to fall. He tried to catch me but tripped over his stool leg and landed on top of me with a thud.

"Ouch!" I rubbed my head where it collided with the concrete floor and grimaced.

"God, Bella! I'm so sorry. You okay?"

"What were you doing?"

"Listening to my iPod." He sheepishly held up an ear bud and I smiled at him. "you okay?"

"Clumsy as ever, but yes. I may need some aspirin in a little while, but I'm okay."

He nodded and I suddenly realized the position that we were both in. His body was on top of mine one leg between mine, our hips pinned together and our faces inches apart. I could feel Jake's breathing speeding up and my heart began to race, my vision blurring slightly. "Jake, you can get up." I said while I clenched my eyes shut.

He quickly stood up, reaching his hand out for mine and helped me up. I shook the thoughts that flooded my mind away and sat down on my crate, avoiding his stares. I could feel my face was on fire and needed an aversion to this, I was unaware of why I was suddenly so attracted and aware of Jacob.

He'd gone back to his own homework, which he was doing at the bench before our mishap and we finished about the same time. He'd grabbed a coke for each of us and handed me mine before we sat down on the couch he had out there. I flipped my pop tab a few times before it broke off, he hated that. He always told me it messes with how the pop flowed out of the spout, that the tab had a purpose. He gave me an annoyed look and shook his head, I laughed and handed him the tab. "For you."

"I don't know why you do that." He sighed, tossing the tab in the trash next to him.

"Because I don't like it, it tickles my nose. That's why." I laughed, really it was just a nervous habit and I covered that up with the nose theory.

He shrugged and sipped his coke, "So why don't you turn it?"

"Because...I like to take it off. Why do you insist on not wearing shoes?" I challenged him, he raised his head and pursed his lips like he was thinking and then swung his head towards me and leaned in.

"Because I hate wearing shoes or socks."

I don't know why but I burst out laughing at his sentence and he joined in. After we'd stopped laughing I turned towards him on the couch. "Jake..."

"Hmm?" He swallowed a gulp of pop and turned towards me on the couch.

"Would you like to go to the movies with a group of us on Saturday around 8?" I didn't want to give Jake the wrong impression but I really didn't want to go and I knew Jake would make it better if not just tolerable.

He seemed surprised and raised an eyebrow at me, "Who's we?"

"Angela and her boyfriend, Jess and Mike."

"Isn't Mike that guy who won't take no for an answer?" When I nodded he clenched his jaw and sighed. "Yeah, I'd love to go and meet this idiot."

"You have to be nice."

He looked as though I'd slapped him, which I would never do. "Why the hell do I have to be nice to that idiot? He follows you around everywhere and won't get the hints you nicely drop, maybe he needs someone to spell it out for him!" his voice rose slightly towards the end and I cringed as it bounced off the tin walls.

I was confused at his sudden outburst and hugged myself anxiously, which Jacob noticed instantly. "I'm...sorry. I'm not yelling at you, I just hate that guy but if it will make you happy I'll be on my best behavior."

I nodded, "Thanks."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Jacob begged to pick me up and I obliged, I threw on gray leggings, my trusty old chucks and a black tunic with a lacy back. He was in jeans and a t shirt and his chucks which I noted also made me feel funny, he looked good. I swallowed hard and fumbled with the radio as a distraction when his voice startled me. "I hate that song. All she does is complain about boys." he grumbled.

"It's Taylor Swift, of course it is. Isn't that all she sings about?" I laughed, turning it up a notch to annoy him and began to sing at the top of my lungs. "And if you come around saying sorry to me, My daddy's gonna show you how sorry you'll be! I hate that stupid old pick up truck you never let me drive! You're a redneck heartbreak who's really bad at lying!" He laughed and threw my hand off the dial, switching it off. "Party pooper." I stuck my tongue out and we shared a good laugh. It was amazing how at ease I felt with Jacob, singing like that was something I never did but he brought out that side of me.

"We're here anyhow." He patted my hand on the console, a gesture that told me to let him get my door. I shook my head and laughed as he opened it, "Mah lady." He held his hand out and bowed and I took it and stepped into the street.

"Why thank you kind sir." I giggled, he smiled and we noticed our hands lingered, holding each others before I quickly jerked it away. "Let's go."

We walked up to the front of the theater and I felt Jacob tense beside me, I looked up and saw Mike standing there alone with his hands in his pockets. "Hey Mike." I said kindly. "Where's everyone else?" I had a feeling he didn't invite anyone else which made this even more awkward.

"Ah, had other plans. Who's this?" He jabbed his thumb in Jake's direction.

"You said the more the merrier, this is my friend Jacob. Jacob, this is Mike a friend from school."

"Ah. Hi." He paid no attention to him other than how tall he was. "We should go in."

Jacob and Mike fought over who would pay for me so I had slipped the ticket man money and bought my own, waving it at them. I slipped inside and motioned for them to buy their own as well.

Once inside I found a seat and followed Jacob towards the row but Mike pushed past me at the last minute, putting himself between us. Jacob put his hand out, thinking it was me and I was falling and grabbed Mike's arm. "What the hell are you doing?" He looked at me and then at Mike.

"I uh, just tripped. Sorry."

I shook my head at his attempt at a lie when I'd seen him shove past me so I couldn't sit next to Jake. "You tripped. Right. Go." He motioned for Mike to go and he shook his head.

"I asked Bella to come so I want to sit by her."

"Fine, she can sit in the middle." Jacob hissed, I put my hand out and touched his arm, it was really warm and I felt him relax at my touch.

"OK, geez." Mike shuffled past him and I sat between them willing the movie to hurry up and be done with.

Half way through the movie I glanced down at the arm rest on either side of me and Jacob had his hand there, Mike had his there both of them offering me their hand should I want to hold it. I shook my head and smirked, this was a nightmare for sure. The movie began to get gory and Mike flinched beside me Jacob and I not phased at all, this was our type of movie.

"Scuse me, I'm gonna be sick." Mike growled, fleeing from the dark theater startling me.

"What a douche." Jacob laughed. I slapped his arm playfully, his fingertips waving in the air on the arm rest, telling me to hold his hand.

I pretended not to notice his hand though, not really wanting to do this tonight. We finished out the movie in silence though and waited for Mike outside on the steps. As I leaned against the wall Jacob grabbed my hand in his and intertwined our fingers. I swallowed thickly at the feeling of his warm skin against mine, his hot skin actually.

"Jake, you feeling okay? You are really warm." I asked, wiggling my fingers between his slightly as a visual.

He nodded, "You let me hold your hand."

I bit the inside of my lip, this felt nice, it felt normal, it felt good. But my entire body was screaming 'you aren't ready for this' "We've held hands before."

"Yeah when we were kids. This is different." He placed our hands over his heart and I felt the thudding on my hand. "You make my heart race Bella, it scares me sometimes how fast."

I pulled my hand away and he dropped his hand but I took it again, placing it over my own heart so he could feel that mine was also racing. "I don't know what's going on Jake..."

He smiled at my steady thud and put his other hand behind my neck. I giggled as he inched his head towards me, our lips millimeters apart.

"Woo! Boy I am sick." Mike hollered, startling us apart. Jake shot him a dirty look, "What? I wasn't feeling well before the movie."

"How about that. So you risk getting Bella sick? How about I put you in the hospital with your fake illness and a real injury?!"

"Whoa!" Mike backed up, hands in front of him, "Chill dude."

I grabbed Jacobs arm, it was even hotter than it was a few minutes ago. "Jake! You are burning up!"

He shook his head and looked at me funny, "I really feel weird Bella. We need to go."

"Wait, we? I thought you said..."

"Not now Mike. I'll see you Monday." I didn't have time to hash out my lies to Mike, Jake looked awful and I needed to get him home. "Jake, you want me to take you to the hospital? You are scaring me."

I opened the passenger door to the rabbit and he sat down, sweat running down his face, tendrils of loose hair stuck to his forehead. He pulled his legs in and groaned, grabbing his stomach, "Take me home Bella."

I started the car and headed back towards his house, "Jake you need a doctor."

"We have a reservation doctor, just hurry. Oh god." He groaned, I was trying not to let myself panic.

I know in a normal circumstance I'd get a lecture from him on the care of the rabbit and not speeding but right now I was terrified something was wrong with Jacob and I needed to get him home quickly.

I turned off the engine and raced around to open his door which didn't help, I slipped in the puddle and fell. He opened his door and threw his legs out, trying to help me but I jumped up "No I'm okay. Here."

I offered him my hand and I helped him up, trying my hardest to get him to his door. "BILLY!" I yelled, hoping he would hear me. After a few times he came to the door, "Billy, Jake...there's something wrong!"

His eyes clouded over after he looked at Jacob and he pulled himself out of the doorway so I could help Jacob to the couch. It whined under his weight and he was beginning to shake, I pulled a blanket down but billy took it out of my shaking hands. "Bella, thank you but you need to go home now."

"No, Jake is sick Billy. I need to..." I tried to take the blanket but he pulled it out of my reach.

"Bella, please. Go home now, I will tend to him. This has happened before, OK I will have him call you in the morning when he's ok."

I wanted to ask questions, lots of questions but one look at Jacob convulsing on the couch and I was holding back tears. "OK OK" I got out of the way and Billy lifted one of Jacob's eyelids and looked sad. "You sure he's..."

"BELLA!" His voice boomed, I jumped and slammed the door behind me as the tears fell. I didn't know what was going on he didn't need to be so pushy. I drove home and waited for the phone to ring, but it never did.