SM owns all. This is the way that I wanted things to go. Thanks to Goldengirl62, for your help, I do appreciate you, and thanks to my beta Ladyofspain.

CHAPTER SIX

My Bells was definitely not immune to me

(Jacob's POV)

When I reached Lauren's table she looked up smiling widely at me. "Jacob," she said happily. "I am glad you decided to join me for lunch." Then she winked. "It's a good thing I always save a seat for you; I knew you would eventually give in." She patted the seat next to hers. "Come, sit down."

Didn't she ever give up?, "I need to speak with you for a minute."

She patted the seat again. "Sure, sit and we can talk about whatever you want." She gave me another wink.

Give me strength. "Not here; follow me." I had no patience for her flirtations right now—or ever.

"Okay, we can talk outside." She got up and started heading in the direction of the exit, but I grabbed her arm and veered her to where Bella was seated. She looked at me questioningly, but I said nothing and didn't stop traveling until we were standing at my Bella's table.

I could tell Bella felt uncomfortable when she looked up and saw me standing there with Lauren, but she tried to hide it. Even Lauren was surprised, but tried to play it off by putting her hand on my chest.

"I thought you would want somewhere more private for our conversation. Why—"

I pushed her hands off me. "Keep your hands to yourself." I was not amused by her antics.

I looked directly at Bella. "I came over to clarify a few things." Then I turned to Lauren. "Mainly about the conversation you had with her." I was trying to be firm but as respectful as I could in this situation. "I don't belong to you, Lauren, never had and never will. And with these immature antics of yours, even friendship is out of question. So I would appreciate it if you would leave me alone— no more flirting." Then turning back to Bella, looking her directly in the eyes, I blurted, "There is only one girl I have or will ever have any interest in, and I would very much like to be her friend, if she would let me."

Peering back to Lauren, I was deathly serious now. "You need to apologize for hassling her about something that does not concern you," I said through clenched teeth.

Lauren became angry, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Please, I'll do no such thing." Rolling her eyes in disbelief, she continued, "I don't see what you could possible see in her anyway."

"You want to know what I see in her?", Looking at Bella, I offered, "I see a woman that is beautiful inside and out. Who cares about others more than she does herself. I see a woman any man would be proud to call his own."

I smiled at Bella, then glanced at Lauren again. "I see everything you're not, and couldn't hope to be on your best day." I looked Bella directly in the eyes. "I'm hoping she will give me a chance to prove I can be a man worthy of her."

Bella blushed profusely when I said that. Angela just sat there smiling, watching her friends' reaction; I think I just found another ally to my cause. Lauren's mouth gaped, like a fish on a hook, her face turning bright red. Huffing in rage and jealousy; she stalked away, back to her table.

After she left, I stood there just looking at Bella, breathing in her sweet, intoxicating scent and listening to her heartbeat, which was now thumping a mile a minute. As I watched, she slowly, softly smiled at me and my heart soared. A genuine smile finally. She was not as immune to me as she wanted everyone to think.

"Talk to you later, Bells." I smiled and nodded to Angela, then went back to my table.

When I sat back down my friends patted me on the back.

"Good for you," Embry brayed. "'Bout time you put that girl in her place."

"Yeah, that girl was a pain," Quil added, and everyone agreed

"We didn't miss that look that passed between you and Bella," Embry said grinning. "You're finally making headway with her. Way to go, Jake."

I knew they were all happy for me. I knew I felt happier at that moment than I had felt in a long time.

"You know she might become a problem," Quil warned

"Who?", I was confused what he could be talking about; my mind was so filled with thoughts of Bella.

"Lauren," he replied as if I was dense. "She is not going to let what just happened be forgotten. She may look for a little payback."

"Let her try," I replied. "I can handle anything she throws my way."

"Yeah, but she might try to hurt you through Bella," Embry added

I became still. "If she does anything to hurt my Bells, she will regret it."

No one replied to that, they knew I was very serious in what I said.

(Bella's POV)

I was still blushing at what he had said to me, even after he left. It was surprising to me that he handled the situation in that way—surprised, but rather pleased. He was definitely showing me another side to himself, but I still planned to be cautious around him and his friends. I still couldn't believe I smiled at him, but who would really blame me. He was so darn cute, though cute is too mild a word for describing Jacob. I looked at Angela and she was just sitting there with her lips curled up.

"What?", I asked innocently.

She shook her head. "Well, Jacob has definitely made his intentions towards you clear. He is definitely on the prowl for one Isabella Swan."

I looked wide-eyed at her. "It doesn't matter what he says or does, I have no intentions of being caught, especially by him."

She glanced over to where Jacob sat. "Yeah, that's what you keep saying, but it is becoming very obvious that you have some interest in him." Her smile got wider.

"How could I, after the way he treated me the first day," I said without much conviction.

"I don't know, maybe he is showing a side you never thought existed. The way you were looking at each other," she paused, still grinning, "I felt as though I was intruding."

I made no reply. Was I being that obvious and was Jacob a great a guy as everyone thought?

"Hey ladies." I looked up; Mike, Ben and Tyler came over to join us. Mike was the one who spoke. They all sat down.

"How come you both aren't sitting at our usual table?", Tyler asked

Angela and I looked at each other. "We just had some girl things to talk about," I replied looking over at him.

Mike was sitting in the chair on the other side of me, and seemed to accidentally brush his hand against my arm. "Have you decided yet when you would like to go out to the movies? We could even make a day of it." The next time, he accidentally brushed my hand. "We could have dinner after."

I gave him the same answer as always. Most men would've give up by now, but he looked at it as hope, and these accidental touches were getting on my nerves. We heard a loud noise and looked over to where it came from—Jacobs' table, I didn't see what caused the noise, but Jacob was looking at Mike like he wanted to rip him apart. I slowly moved my chair closer to Angela's.

Mike glanced over at him, then at me. "Is he still giving you problems?", He asked. "I would be more than happy to deal with him for you."

I wanted to laugh out loud. Mike might be athletic, but he had nothing on Jacob.

"No, I'm fine." The way Jacob is glaring at you, I thought to myself, I'd start running now.

"Can you all believe how sunny it is today?", Ben asked out loud.

"You know what that means." This came from Tyler

"Football, baby," Mike hollered out.

That got the attention off me and the boys got involved in a deep discussion about football, especially from Mike, who was the star quarterback for the school's football team.

Then I heard them saying something about challenging the Quileutes to a game.

"Hey Jacob," Mike called over to him

I didn't look over there, so I didn't know if mike had his attention. I didn't hear him say anything either.

"How about a game of football after school?", he challenged. "You and your friends against me and mine.

It was a few minutes before I heard him reply, "You're on."

Then Mike turned to me. "You gonna come and watch; I got some serious moves on the field."

I internally rolled my eyes. "Sorry, I'm going to have to pass; Angela and I are going to the school library after our last class." Anyway, I don't want to run into Jake out there, I thought to myself.

We all started making our way to class. Angela said she would be waiting outside the gym for me after school.

It wasn't until I walked by the Cullens' usual table that I realized they weren't there. It was then I remembered wondering why Edward wasn't in class this morning. But for all of them to be absent on the same day did seem a little odd. Oh well, I thought as I entered gym—no skin off my nose.

After class, I met Angela where she said she would be and we started walking towards the parking lot.

"I'm going up to Port Angeles tomorrow; I wanted to check out some of the book stores they have up there. Would you like to go?", she asked.

"Yeah, I'd love to. I have some classical books that I have read so much they are falling apart. I would love to find some replacements for them," I replied.

"You know, we would have to go to a specialty book store for that. We'd have to look in the phone book to see where one is located there," she suggested.

"I actually have one in my truck." She looked at me strangely.

I grinned. "Don't ask."

We both laughed as we made our way to the school library.

We spent almost two hours in the library before heading back to my truck to look in the phone book for those specialty bookstore locations in Port Angeles. We heard laughing as soon as we reached the parking lot; I knew who it was by the sound, but did not look in their direction as we made it to my truck.

"Don't look over there," she whispered to me.

"Why shouldn't I?", I asked, confused.

"It seems Jacob isn't playing fair at all. They are all standing by your truck, so just take my advice and don't look."

I didn't know what she meant, but although I wanted to look, I took her advice and didn't look.

"Maybe we should go to my house and look on the internet for places instead."

"Okay," I agreed. "It would be easier."

"Good, and I'll bring you back to collect your truck afterwards."

We walked over to her car, without glancing over to where Jacob and his friends were, and quickly got in. As she pulled out of her parking spot and began driving towards the exit, I glanced up.

Just as we were passing my truck, my heart seems to stop and my breathing hitched. "Shit!" was all I could say. Now I realized why she told me not to look.

Realizing I said that aloud, I looked towards Angela, who was smiling knowingly.

"He has quite the affect on you, doesn't he?" She commented, still smiling. "Don't look back now or you won't be able to take your eyes off him."

I shook my head indulgently and laughed. I silently agreed as we left the parking lot and were on our way to her house. He definitely had a body I'd like to cuddle up to, but that didn't mean I would act on it.

(Jacob's POV)

I smirked as I watched them leave. No matter how she tried to hide it, she was definitely not immune to me. I heard the changing beat of her heart as she checked me out, while I was shirtless. I felt as though she touched me everywhere she looked and I loved it.

I heard what her friend said to her and her reply, but ended up looking anyway. I knew she couldn't help it, especially since they had to drive right by us to leave. She didn't look for long, but the sound of her heartbeat speeding up was instantaneous and music to my ears. I smiled to myself when I heard that word come out of her and realized why.

My Bells was definitely not immune to me.

Grinning like an idiot, I watched as the car drove out of sight. I couldn't help it; my whole body was aware of her and I wanted to grab her up in my arms. My fingers tingled and itched to do just that. I was glad I decided to move my truck closer to hers. It was a calculated move on the quest to win my Bells' heart and I got the reaction I was hoping for and then some. I was so happy, I could sing.

I became worried when I remembered the conversation they had about Bella coming back here for her truck later. This place would be deserted then and anything could happen to her, though I was sure Angela wouldn't leave until Bella was safely in her truck and on the way home. I couldn't help but worry, considering what I knew about the world we lived in.

I would just have to be here when she returned. Yeah, that was exactly what I would do—go home and check on my dad, grab something to eat and come back. She would never know I was there. I turned to Quil and Embry who was wrestling and goofing off.

"Come on, let's get home. I need to check on my dad."

We piled into the truck and were on our way. "You're coming back aren't you?" Embry asked. "Yeah we heard their conversation too."

"That's not the only thing we noticed," Quil teased, grinning.

"What else do you think you noticed?", I asked as if I didn't already know.

"It seems Miss Bella is not immune to your charms, dear brother."

"Or should we say physical attributes," Embry chimed in.

"You know Embry, somehow the words, physical attributes sounds so wrong coming out of your mouth when referring to me."

"Who cares, you're wearing her down, my man." Then he got serious. "We're happy for you, Jake," he added.

I said nothing; just grinned all the way home.

(Bella's POV)

I was looking at Angela, speechless. She just told me she was in the same position as I was; she liked Embry a lot, but didn't think anything could come of it.

"Why would you think that?", I asked her. "You're a beautiful girl, inside and out. Any man would be lucky to have you."

"Thanks, but he hasn't even looked at me, unlike Jacob. It is so obvious that boy is crazy about you."

"Yeah, but how do I know it's not just an act. He seemed to have changed his tune too quickly from that first day." I shook my head. "I think it's safer for me to just stay away from him."

"If you say so," she replied skeptically.

"Seriously, I admit he looks good and more importantly, he seems a lot nicer than I first thought, but I can't take that chance", at least, not for now, I thought.

When we reached her house, I called my dad to tell him I would be late. He informed me he would be working late himself and would grab something to eat from the diner. Angela made us something to eat, and then we came upstairs and got on the PC, where we found an address for a bookstore that carried exactly what I wanted.

We decided that when we went, we would make a day of it, sight seeing and having fun.

Now it was getting late and I was tired. I stood up from where I was sitting on the chair by her desk and collected my bag.

"I think it's time I head home."

She stood and grabbed her keys and purse. "It is getting late. I'll take you to your truck now."

The parking lot was deserted and creepy looking. "Call me when you get home," she said as I prepared to leave the car.

"I will. Thanks Angela." I then went quickly to my truck and got in. She sat in her car and waited for me to get safely to my truck and start it. I pulled out, honked my horn, and waved at her. She did the same, then we each went in different directions.

(Jacob's POV)

After checking on my dad, and getting something to eat, I went and checked in with Sam. It was decided that Bella's house and area surrounding would become a regular part of our patrol. Though the Cullens promised to leave her alone away from school, we didn't buy it, especially where Edward was concerned. His unnatural attraction to her caused us to take no chances. His kind was very deceptive and selfish. Once they found interest in something/someone, they never gave up until they had it, no matter the pain or danger it caused others.

After leaving Embry and Quil to watch her house, I rushed back to the school and was there ten minutes before she arrived. I watched as she said goodbye to Angela, then got in her truck and pulled away.

I followed her all the way home. Thankful for the wooded area along the road that allowed me to, I kept my senses open to any dangers that might be near, and met up with Embry in the woods across from her house.

Hey Embry, you can go home now; I got it from here.

Okay, but call if you need us. – Embry

Will do – Jake

And Jake? – Embry

Yeah? – Jake

Don't get caught. – Embry

He mentally grinned and ran off to finish his patrol.

There was no way I would be leaving tonight, so I stayed in the woods across from her house until it quieted and the change of her breathing and heart beat told me she was fast asleep. Then I slowly walked over to her window and lay down with my head on my paws. Even if she didn't know it, I would protect my Bells as she slept.

With the sound of her heartbeat vibrating through me, and her sweet scent surrounding, I sighed deeply in contentment. I'd found home.