Hey guys, here is Chapter three to 'When the Water's Not So Clear'

Hope you like it =]

*Disclaime* I do not own Twilight nor any of it's characters nor the title of this fanfic.

-DaringReality


Jake's POV

So…that was odd to say the least. Seth sure didn't seem to like it when I mentioned Bella. I mean how could he already not like her? He hasn't even met her, plus it's not like I'd forget him if I started dating her.

Where is this even coming from. God knows Bella would never be into me that way. She barely knows me and I saw her hanging out with the Cullens. If that's her type of crowd then I'm definitely never going to get with her. I'm just a poor kid livin' on a reservation, those high class Cullens beat me out of the picture. I doubt she'd even come to my birthday party too, but it really couldn't hurt to ask right? I mean it's the polite thing to do seeing as how our father's are close friends.

I'm over analyzing this junk too much. I thought, Who cares about some girl anyway, I don't really need a girlfriend.

They really are just trouble, as much as I don't like Sam, I'll take him as an example. His life with women seemed to be pure hell, Leah being the devil in said hell.

Either way, I'm sure I'll find someone, even if its not Bella. Why am I even worrying about this? I gotta finish changing the oil in the Rabbit.

Just as I was about to pop the hood again, Quil and Embry walked in.

"Where'd your lil boyfriend go, Jake?" snickered Quil. Kinda pissed me off but I let it slide.

"Seth went home…" I said leaning down in the hood and twisting off a cap inside, pouring some fresh oil. "Where's your fuck buddy Paul? Huh Quil?!" I joked. They both seem to have been recruited into Sam's little protector gang. Makes me sick, Quil thinks he's the baddest of the bad now, and I never really liked Paul too much. I'm still bigger than Quil, Paul and even Sam. Maybe that's why he's been annoying me so much, to get me in his gang. Helllll no, not about to be some guardian of the res or whatever.

"Ass, he's out with Sam somewhere," said Quil, a little downcast. He must not have been included in today's activities. "I don't know where though."

Embry just laughed and walked over to lean on my car. "How ya been Jake? Haven't really talked to you in the past week, and you was too busy stuffing your face at the Bonfire to speak to anyone." He laughed. I did to since it was mostly true, although they were hitting on those girls all night.

"I'm fine, and you were too busy flirting all night to talk to your friends." I said, lowering the hood to the Rabbit. "How'd that go by the way, looks like you got shot down."

'Naw man, I got her number, Quil's the one that got shot down." he laughed, looking over at Quil who was sulking by the garage door. "Yea there was this one girl, kept wanting to know about you. She kept ignoring Quil and asking aboutcha." He laughed.

"That's nice," I said, wiping my hands on my shirt, staining it with grease. "I'm not really looking though."

"Is it because of Charlie's daughter?" he asked, "Man she's as pale as the Cullens. You need someone dark, someone from the res." he laughed. I thought Bella was just fine, although she is almost transparent, I do prefer people with at least a hint of color.

"No its because of his little boyfriend Seth." Snickered Quil. I flipped him off and continued talking to Embry. I wish he'd shut the fuck up about Seth.

"I don't know…I haven't really talked to Bella that much." I shrugged, but I definitely wouldn't mind doing so.

"Well then talk to her man," he said walking over to Quil, "We really just came by to ask what you were planning for your birthday this week? And we don't know what to get ya so we was scoping out what you need in the garage." he admitted with a chuckle.

I laughed and told them of my plans. Just a few friends over, I left out that I was thinking of inviting Bella, didn't want Embry asking too many questions.

Seth's POV

Everyone was home when I arrived. I walked in, Dad was eating a bowl of some Honey Nut Cheerios (mom forces him to, try and reduce his cholesterol and anything really to help his heart which I'm not sure will totally work but hey he likes the cereal anyway.) Leah was on the computer, applying for some job online and mom was in the shower.

"Hey Leah," I greeted, " Why are you applying for a job?" I asked innocently.

"Money, duh," she said, "Dad won't let me go out of state for college so by god Imma get a job and pay for it myself, plus some student loans would help and I could try for a scholarship or two." she finished, hell-bent on getting the hell out of here.

"Oh," I said sofly, she didn't have to be so smart about it. Thanks for picking me up last night by the way. I thought to myself.

I just walked quietly to my room, laying down on my small bed and flipped on the TV. I didn't really pay any attention to it though, I just needed some background noise. It was unusually quiet at the house today and I couldn't say I liked it.

I thought back on what to get Jake for his birthday. It is his sixteenth birthday, it should be special.

Maybe Bella could make it special for him…

Yea I need to get over that, I can't stand in Jake's way if he wants a girlfriend. Besides if he's happy then I guess I could salvage some happiness in knowing he's happy for myself.

But what in the hell am I supposed to get him?! I mean really, he likes cars but I'm positive I'm too broke to get anything useful to help him fix his car. Maybe though…maybe I can get him like a steering wheel cover…or maybe a new CD so he can listen to in his car. Does that old thing have a CD player? I don't know, this is so hard, I wanna get him something nice, something he actually wants.

Anyway, I couldn't stop yawning and decided to take a short nap. I kept waking up last night, and I suspect Jake threw a pillow at me but I'm not positive. A little nap sounds amazing right now. I let my eyes drift closed and didn't wake up til later that night. Short nap, psht, long nap.

Jake's POV

The next week of school literally was the slowest week of my life. With that coming Saturday being my 16th birthday, I couldn't wait. Each second of the clock was like a minute that week, each minute doubled to two. I was all pumped to pass my permit test, dad promised to take me that morning and I had been studying more than I had concentrated on my school work.

I knew how to drive, it was just the test asked stupid questions like how old does a child have to be to be left alone in the car, how far are you supposed to stay behind a car while driving….useless shit.

Now if I was taking the driving exam I could pass blindfolded. Written test are the bane of my existence, even multiple choice. Probably why I have a C average in school, wish I was more like Seth. He's never made anything below an A, probably never even made an A-.

Also dad had invited Charlie and Bella up for the day, which got me off the hook for inviting her myself. My sister Rachel was even coming in, it should be a pretty good day.

Actually scratch that last thought, Sam just showed up…Please don't annoy me today, pleaseeee.

"Hey Billy," he greeted my dad, "Happy Birthday Jake." he stretched out his hand for me to shake. He didn't even do that for dad…this guy is creepy, but I shook his hand anyway and he gave me a small (creepy) smile.

"Hey Sam, what are you doing here so early?" dad asked nicely, a friendly grin spread across his face, he seriously seemed to worship the ground Sam walked on.

Sam just picked up a few brightly colored packages out of his truck, "Just thought I should drop these off early, I might end up being a little late tonight so I thought I'd drop them on by." He said, suddenly cheerful. "Your dad has been hiding these at my place all week long Jake." That dirty dog, I was wondering where he's been sneaking off to.

"Yea son, your dad's a sly one." He chuckled as I wheeled him off to the car, "But you'll have to excuse us Sam, I'm taking Jake here to get his permit."

"Oh really, well good luck there Jake, hopefully I'll see you guys tonight if I'm able to come." he said, walking to his own car after setting the gifts inside the door. "Mine, Quil's and Paul's gifts are in there also, they will probably be late also unfortunately."

Aw great, now two of my best friends won't be here, but hey at least Sam won't be there. Maybe Leah will come, and Seth will be there and Rachel and Bella. I smiled at that last thought, maybe she actually wanted to come, I surely hope so.

"Sure sure…" I said as I settled myself in the truck and dad started the engine. He gave Sam a knowing look and his mood seemed to change all of a sudden. He wasn't as cheerful anymore. Billy gave his goodbye's and I just grunted and we spun off to the courthouse so I could take my permit.


Later that day, after I passed my test, (one step closer to getting my license, hell yes) everyone was slowly starting to arrive. Seth was the first one there, along with his mother and father, Harry and Sue Clearwater. Leah even stayed once she saw Sam wasn't here, but I could see she kept her car keys in her hands the whole time in case she saw him coming.

Seth brought some balloons with him and a bag that said 'Happy Birthday' on it, and his mom followed him with a big cake tray. It was covered in aluminum foil so I couldn't tell what kind it was but I was sure it was delicious if Sue Clearwater had baked it.

"Happy Birthday Jake!" came Seth's voice from behind me. "Stop drooling over the cake, and don't even try and peek into this bag, I might have to hurt you." he said, holding it close to him so I couldn't look inside. He tied the balloons to the back of one of the kitchen chairs and was standing in front of me smiling. Did I ever mention he's the greatest? I leaned down and gave him a one handed hung and said thanks, all the while trying to peek into the bag.

"Hey now," he said pushing me away, and holding the bag closer. I laughed. "What did I just say?" he said, while sticking his tongue out and taking the gift to hide somewhere.

"You do know its my birthday, you can go ahead and give me the present." I said smiling, curiosity getting the best of me. It must be something good.

"No, not until after you open your other presents." he said trying to run from me, I only had to take a few steps to match his fast pace. "Ya know, save the best for last, wouldn't want the other gifts to pale in comparison to mine if you open it first." he said innocently.

God he's so adorable…

What the shit is wrong with me? I'm losing my mind, that's all there is to it. I'm going insane. But I couldn't deny how cute he was acting, I just wanted to pounce him and give him a big hug. No one seems to care about my birthday as much as he did.

Cute…I want to what him?

Jake, I says to myself, stop this shit now….he's your best fucking friend. Your acting all weird, what the shit man?!?!

Okay so if the fact that I thought my best friend was adorable and cute (who is a boy) isn't a clear sign that I'm losing my fucking mind, the whole talking to myself thing surely is.

I brushed off those thoughts, trying to concentrate on getting this gift, which he was desperately trying to block me from getting into my own room. The door's lock didn't work, so he was leaned up against it. I could easily push him out of the way but I should probably leave him be. "Okay okay, you win, but you better give it to me soon." I said with a chuckle as I walked away. I heard someone else arrive and I was hoping it was Bella.

Sure enough I heard Charlie's loud voice greeting Billy. He patted him on the back in the kitchen, and Bella was right behind him, smiling softly at her father and mine.

"Bella, it's sure great to see you again." my dad greeted. "Jake sure has been asking a lot about you, he was worried you might not make it." Oh…my…gawd…thank you father…I'm going to roll him off a cliff for that, well maybe not a cliff that might be a little harsh.

"Thanks dad…" I said as I walked into the kitchen.

"Just trying to keep it real son." he said with a huge grin. I'm sure my face was blood red, even under my dark skin.

Keep it real embarrassing more like it. Is that just a thing all parents like to do? Embarrass the hell out of their kids or are they just really that clueless and think they're smooth?

"Hi Bella, nice to see you again…" I said with a crooked smile, scratching the back of my head with my hand.

"Hi Jacob." she said looking down and shuffling her feet. Clearly she wasn't comfortable. "Oh here, Happy birthday." she said with a smile once she noticed she was still holding the card.

It had Jacob written across the envelope in a nice cursive script. I accepted the card with a smile, which she shyly handed over. I opened it, and inside there was twenty bucks. Whoa that was nice. It read "Happy 16th Birthday, hope today is everything you wished for." signed Bella and Charlie. It wasn't the most sincere gift and doesn't scream "hey I like you" but it was nice, and I wasn't one to deny money.

"Thanks." I said, putting the money in my billfold and placing it back in my back pocket. Seth then reappeared from wherever he hid my gift and came to stand by my side. He looked…I don't know, not as cheerful as he did a few minutes ago. "Oh hey Seth, this is Bella, Bella, Seth." He just nodded in acknowledgment, and Bella smiled a friendly smile.

That was kinda rude of him, he's never that rude.

Maybe he's just still worried I'm going to stop being his friend if I get too deep in a serious relationship. That's crazy, I'd never forget about my best bud.

Seth's POV

So, this is Bella Swan. Sure doesn't look like anything special. She's pale as a ghost, shorter than I am, and her nose was kinda funny.

Okay so maybe that was mean, I shouldn't insult her, for all I know she might be the nicest person alive. And she doesn't look to devious, maybe she won't steal my best friend away.

All jokes aside, she was pretty…in a plain sort of way. Not super model worthy but then again she's not Ugly Betty. She was thin and had long brown hair that fell abut half way down her back. She seemed shy, but nice enough. So I decided to add in "Nice to meet you." before I came off too rude.

"Likewise." she said, and it sounded like she genuinely meant it.

After that painful confrontation Embry showed up, and he brought his stereo. The music started and it finally seemed like an actual birthday party. Jake's sister Rachel showed up sometime after that, whom I haven't seen in a while. She started college this year and hasn't been home since.

"Jake! Dad!" she said when she entered, hugging them both, the same russet skin she held blending in with that of her family. They were such a happy looking family, no matter how broken up it may be.

"Rachel, its good to see you." Billy chuckled, "How are you? How's college, any boys bothering you up there on campus?" he bombarded with a million fatherly questions. He was always so protective of his daughter. He didn't want her to leave, but he knew she was destined for better things.

"Everything's fine dad and no, no boys are bothering me." she laughed, backing away from the embrace, pulling out a small wrapped box. "Here ya go baby bro, Happy 16th Birthday, its not keys to some new car but I believe you'll like it." she said, handing the box to Jake.

"Thanks sis," he said, unwrapping the little box. "Oh my god, thank you soooo much Rach." he said as he saw the blue iPod nano. He almost tackled his sis, embracing her again. It was funny since she was so much tinier than him, around my height.

Jake seemed happy, not only about his gift but to have his sister back for the day. I could tell he really missed her the way his eyes lit up when she first arrived. I liked seeing Jake happy, the way his white teeth shone when he smiled, how his smile stretched up to his eyes and the skin underneath crinkled up, the way his husky chuckle would escape his throat. It sent shivers down my spine just hearing that.

Okay so I admit, maybe I see Jake as more of a friend. Maybe that's why I don't like Bella.

Hell who am I kidding, that is why I don't like her, and she doesn't deserve my dislike, she's perfectly nice. Not to mention the fact that she doesn't seem to notice Jake like he does her. That helps a little. Even though I don't want to see him hurt.

I don't know if I'm gay or not, but there is something I feel for Jake that goes beyond the realm of friendship. I couldn't ever act upon on these feelings though, if I want Jake to stay my friend. If I don't want him to murder me, or look at me in disgust. No, I'd keep these feelings quiet for his sake and mine.

"I guess I can't really call you baby bro anymore." Rachael chuckled, pulling away from Jake but keeping her arms around him, looking up at him. "How tall are you? 9 foot?!"

"Haha not hardly," Jake said, that smile that could kill me and bring me back all at the same time flashing across his face again. His cheek muscles have to be getting sore for all the smiling. "6'5" actually." he said, not a bit modest. When you look like that though, who needs modesty.

After the family reunion was over, the party livened up again. We all sat around and ate Billy's world famous spaghetti (which Jake let everyone know it was only Ragu), Jake showed us his permit and we all took turns making fun of his picture. He looked so happy, in a kinda goody way, like a kid on Christmas, and his hair was messed up a little. He still looked great to me though. Then Jake unveiled his car, which he'd been working on all week to get done, and then we sat around and played some cards, walked the beach and just messed around until it was time to open gifts. Luckily the weather was permitting and it was a particularly cloudless day. If it wasn't, the Black's tiny home would've been cramped.

Jake tore open his gifts with the exuberance of a child. It was a funny site, since he looked almost 20 instead of 16. It reminded me of an overgrown puppy dog, the way his eyes lit up with wonder and excitement. The colorful papers ripped to shreds with his big strong hands, and the smile shown when he saw what was hidden beneath the paper was adorable. He'd gotten new seat covers for the rabbit, and a CD player he almost instantly went and installed if not for the fact he had other gifts to unwrap.

After he'd unwrapped his presents (all but mine, I liked watching him squirm) we ate the cake mom prepared. It was chocolate, Jake's favorite, with two layers, and chocolate icing. Billy brought out some ice cream, chocolate of course, and we all dug in. Jake loved the cake, and hugged my mom in gratitude.

As we were all enjoying the sweets though, I heard a door slam and someone approaching. Next I heard a car start and pull away, and when Sam walked through the door followed by his two lackeys, I knew that it was Leah that spun those tires in a hurry.

I felt bad, cause she seemed to be enjoying herself, catching up with Rachael, only to have it ruined by Sam's appearance. But it was inevitable, and she really needs to get over it, for herself, and move on. Its not good to dwell on the heart ache. Especially when Sam was now engaged to Emily.

I noticed as Paul walked in, he seemed to stop dead in his tracks. Staring straight ahead I followed his line of sight. He was staring straight at Rachael….what the hell. She looked completely weirded out, and was trying to avoid his gaze. Sam gave him a nudge, and a knowing smirk, and Paul just continued inside the small kitchen, everyone spread out through the home. His eyes kept finding their way back to Rachael…even I was creeped out by it. Poor Rachael…Paul is an odd one, Jake seemed to take notice too and was about to go 'intimidate' Paul until he stopped being stupid. But instead I drug him off the his room, so I could get his gift from where I hid it.

"So your finally giving me my present?" he asked, "oh so its in the bedroom." he said with a smug look on his face and he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"No not that kinda present you idiot. Sorry to dissapoint ya."

Jake's POV

I was only kidding but the more I thought on it the more the idea appealed to me.

Whoa whoa whoa…what the fucking shit? I'm not gay…

Today has been so weird, so I opted to sit on the floor due to the previous thought, and waited patiently for my gift. Seth bent over in the closet and I found myself wanting to look at his bent over figure, but I turned my head, my face growing hotter than it has been.

I'm…not…gay…

"Here you go," said Seth when I turned my head back to look at him, he had a sheepish smile on his face and a sparkle in his eyes. "It's not really much, I didn't have any money but I hope you like it"

I just smiled and dug into the bag, past the decorative paper and into the bottom where a book lied and two burnt CD's. The book had a picture of me and Seth on the cover, taken when we were younger, and as I opened it I realized it was a scrapbook. Each page was adorned with a different picture of us together from childhood, colorful pages accented each picture and he'd wrote the date and time each picture was taken. The CD's had the words "Jake's Faves" scrawled on one in sharpie marker and "Our Faves" on another.

"The one marked with our faves is songs we listened to when we were little.." he said, a slight bush barely visible beneath his tan cheeks. He scratched the back of his head nervously and said "And as you can probably tell I made a scrapbook of when we were little."

I didn't know what to say. This may have been the single most thoughtful gift I'd ever received. I felt a tear threaten to fall, and my heart swelled in my chest. He wasn't kidding when he said the other gifts might pale in comparison, I loved it. "Thanks Seth…"I said and laid down the book and CD's and enveloped him in a huge hug. "I love it." I said, while that one tear streaked down my cheek.

"I'm glad." he said, hugging me back.

It felt so right, holding him like that. I don't know how to explain that 'right' feeling. It just felt…good? No that simple word couldn't even begin to describe what I was feeling right now. I guess you could say I felt loved, I..I felt loved. Seth truly was my best friend in the world…he's…the greatest. Another tear fell and I wouldn't look him in the face for fear he'd laugh at me for being such a sap.

Seth let out a laugh and pulled away, "Jake? You okay, your back is like soaking wet…oh my god your burning up."

"Huh?," I laughed, a bit weak, I was so emotionally drained. But now that I thought about it, I'm sweating. I hadn't even realized but my shirt stuck to my sides and back. A dull ache started in the back of my head and I was so sore all of a sudden. What's going on with me? Have I caught that bug…am..am I dying?!

"Seth…go..go get my dad." I panted, my head started hurting worse. "Please hurry…" I said before I closed my eyes and passed out.