Gah! So so so so SORRY that I've been MIA-there should be a new chapter at some point tomorrow night {hopefully it won't be too late xD}Love you guys {as usual!} and thank you for continuing to read this. Hope you guys enjoy!

As Charlie and Billy made their way to the living room, Jake and I began washing the dishes; just like old times.

"So what happened in school today?" He inquired nonchalantly; out of the hearing of both of our dads. Jake put an arm around my waist, and I smiled and snuggled a bit closer to him.

"I played hooky!" I exclaimed happily. He rolled his eyes.

"Well aren't you just the little deviant?" He said, nuzzling my nose with an Eskimo kiss. "What did you do?"

"Well I had to have the vampire secret service escort me around Port Angeles, so Edward drove, but I just didn't feel like dealing with Nicole's crap today." His arm tightened around me slightly.

"You should have given me a ring," he said, his voice slightly tense with the mention of Edward. "We could have hung out, rather than have you spend time with some leech." I flinched slightly at the term, and he noticed. "Sorry Bells. But it is his fault you're even in this situation with Nicole to begin with. I almost wish you lived in La Push so I could keep you safer." I grimaced. What he said had some truth to it. He shook off the bad mood though. Well, as best he could. "So did you have fun?" He asked gently, trying to get out of his annoyance.

"Yeah," I said with a slight smile. "And I was very careful." His brow furrowed in confusion. "I ate lunch with lots of garlic in it." He broke out into a huge grin.

"That's my girl. Always taking precautions." I smiled and snuggled up next to him.

"Yup. I'm your girl." He stroked my hair and held me closer to her. Then, a devious smirk appeared on his face, and he threw soap suds all over me. "Oh it's on now!" I warned. "I may be a full foot shorter than you, but that leaves more of you to cover in bubbles!" He laughed.

"Oh really now?" He asked teasingly.

"Mhm." I answered, reaching for a handful of suds.

"We'll see about that," he said, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder before I could reach the soapy sink.

"Not fair!" I giggled, still reaching for suds. "You have a height advantage! And a strength advantage! And a…Jake advantage!" He laughed.

"Sure, sure, make excuses," he said, while spinning me around. I laughed and laughed, deliriously happy.

"Let me down" I said. He ignored me of course. I sighed. He could keep this up for an hour and not be the slightest bit tired. Finally though, he gently stopped spinning, and moved me so that I was resting in his arms; nuzzled up to his chest. I rested my head against him.

"Thank you baby." I murmured. He dove his nose into my hair.

"For what?" he asked softly. I smiled.

"For just being you." He looked at me and kissed me on the forehead.

"Of course. Who else would I be?" He asked, and held me closer to him before lightly setting me on the ground. I smiled. We'd gotten the dishes done. Not the fastest that we ever had, but it was something, I suppose. I certainly had fun, which I supposed was what really mattered. We walked into the living room, hand in hand. Charlie's smile lit up the room, while Billy rolled his eyes but with a sly smirk of satisfaction. It was good to know that our parents definitely approved.

"Hey Billy," Jake said. "Can Bells and I go hang with Quil and everyone? There's gonna be a bonfire, and Bella hasn't been down in a while." Billy nodded.

"It's fine with me; just make sure that you get back before midnight. Sound good to you, Charlie?" Billy said.

"Yeah, it's fine. Go have fun you guys!" Charlie said, eyes still fixated on the TV. I think the one of the two teams was about to score a touchdown, but then again, what did I know? I didn't even know how to play football. Jake and I went out to the truck, and drove to La Push, chatting with Jake the entire way. As we pulled up onto the beach, before I could even hop out of my truck, he had arrived around the other side, and picked me up in his arms yet again.

"Jake!" I protested. "I am perfectly capable of walking." He snorted.

"Bells, I love you, but you're one of the klutziest people I know. And besides, it's dark and there's driftwood everywhere. I don't want you falling." I rolled my eyes.

"Jake, let me walk. I'll be fine," I said, pouting. He laughed at my face.

"You are so stubborn," he said, but let me down. I walked for all of two point five seconds before I tripped over a piece of driftwood. Jake caught me, but was laughing so hard, that he had trouble not falling himself.

"Okay. I'll be carried." He didn't say a word, but he just scooped me up in his arms again, still chuckling to himself.

"You are the most amazing girl I've known," he said, "funny as hell, and clumsy as god knows what, but definitely the most amazing." I smiled.

"Thank you sweetie," I said. "I've got a pretty amazing guy myself." He just held me tighter, and we got closer to the glowing bonfire, where Quil, Embry, and the gang awaited us. It was like coming back home in a sense. The people were familiar, and the atmosphere comfortable. I almost wished that I did live in La Push, that I was away from all the Nicole drama, and that I could be with my Jacob everyday. That'd be pretty spectacular. Maybe one day…