Right. Valentine's Day. Thanks, IllusionSign.

I actually did buy something for Jacob on Valentine's Day – just a little box of Ferrero Rochers, but he looked worried when I gave it to him. "Um...this is awkward." he muttered.

"You didn't get anything for me?" I guessed.

"Well, yes, but..."

"Don't tell me." I interrupted. "You got the same box for Bella?"

Jacob went a bit pink, and I laughed. "I kept telling you, you've got the world's most obvious crush on the girl. I'd be shocked if she hasn't figured it out. Tell you what – give me half the chocolates I just gave you, and I'll forgive you."
Jacob chuckled. "Well, it wasn't the same box, but it was candy. Quickest way to a girl's heart is chocolate."

I laughed. "Once I heard a cartoon character say that the way to a woman's heart is a long road and shortcuts are made of chocolate."

That day, Bella mentioned she was going to a movie with her senior friends. "You guys will come too, right?" she asked when Jacob looked at the ground. "Or will it be too much of a drag with a bunch of boring seniors?"

Jacob looked up again. "You'd like us to come, with your friends there?"
"Yes." Bella said, her voice firm. "I'll have a lot more fun if you're both there. Bring Quil, and we'll make it a party." She grinned. "And Beth," she added, "I could try and set you up with my friend Mike. He just broke up with another friend, Jessica, and I need to find a way to get him to leave me alone."

"That is so weird..." I said, grinning. "I have a friend called Jessica, too."

"Cool, bring her." Bella said. "Like I said, party. Maybe I should set her up with Mike, if you're not into him."

We all laughed.

As it was, only four of us went. Bella had apparently asked eight or nine friends, but only three of them had agreed to go – Mike who she'd mentioned, and her friend Angela and her boyfriend, who promptly cancelled on the night when Angela was home sick with flu and her boyfriend didn't want to go without her. Quil also couldn't go, because he was grounded. When I asked Jess, she asked what kind of movie. Bella had wanted to go to some horror thing, and Jess said no immediately. "I saw that really old zombie one in black and white. I know it's not supposed to be that scary, but I couldn't take it. A modern horror movie – don't even ask."

So it was just me, Mike, Jacob and Bella.

Jacob drove and Bella rode shotgun. She then motioned to Mike, giving me a not-so-subtle wink. I smiled back and shrugged. Mike seemed nice enough – a cute guy with fair spiky hair, the kind of guy-next-door you could take home without any worries.

I didn't find much out on the drive. Mike was the son of the people who owned Newton's Sporting Goods. He'd lived in Forks since he was ten. There wasn't much else to know about him. I mean, he seemed nice enough, but kept glaring at the back of Jacob's seat. It was obvious he had a crush on Bella, just as much as Jacob did.

I couldn't help wondering what it was. Bella had three different guys crushing on her, and yet once the first one left, she didn't seem to want anyone else. How was it she got three people interested and I had no one? Was she really that interesting, or was I really that undesirable? Don't get me wrong, Bella was gorgeous and I'd discovered she was witty and adventurous, but also had a considerate, caring side, but was I really ugly, boring and didn't have any good traits? I couldn't lie to myself and say I was exceptional, but I wasn't the Beast to Bella's...well, beauty. It was more like she was Belle and I was Pocahontas, which made her by far the most popular Disney Princess (because Pocahontas was unpopular in Disney and shared Native American blood with me, while Belle was loved by every Disney fan), the most beautiful girl in town, as well as smart and kind. She even looked right with her long dark hair and big brown eyes. Like Bambi (uh-oh, Disney references were starting to take over the chapter – no more, no more!).

We went to see this chainsaw movie. I mean, Bella had promised horror, and Jacob and I had to pay extra to get in since we weren't technically old enough at age sixteen. But it was more funny than anything. I was sitting between Bella and Mike, and all Bella was doing was laughing with Jacob about how fake the movie was. I got into it myself.

We didn't actually finish the movie. Mike rushed out and spent the rest of the night in the bathroom stalls sick, and Jacob motioned to me that he wanted to talk to Bella alone for a bit, so I just hung around in the foyer, and ended up buying a Coke just for something to do.

We ended up leaving early. Bella commented that Jacob was burning up, but he said he felt fine, and to be honest, he looked fine.

I paused before I got into the back of the car. "Can I check?" All I did was touch Jacob's arm, and then I pulled back. "Okay, that is crazy. It's not just your head – your whole body's really hot!"

Jacob suddenly grinned. "So I should hope." he teased. "But seriously, I feel great."

After we dropped Mike off and then Bella, Jacob said he wasn't feeling all that good after all. Not sick, like Mike, he said, just not right.

"I'll drive, if you want." I offered, getting out of the passenger seat.

Bella still looked anxious, but she looked a little reassured when I said that. "That's probably a good idea." she said. "Jake, call me as soon as you get in, OK?"

"Sure, sure." Jacob agreed, although he wasn't looking at her. Still, he said one more thing just before he left – he promised Bella he'd always be there for her and never ever hurt her.

As I drove, I couldn't help but say something. "You know, Jacob? Bella's really lucky to have you. I wonder if I'll ever have that?"

"I'm sure you will." Jacob mumbled. 'But, Beth? You know I'm always going to be there for you, too, right? Like, just because I don't feel the same way I do about Bella, I care just as much."

"Yeah, I know." I said quietly. I dropped him off, and then jogged back to my house.

I only heard from Jacob once in the next ten days. I caught Mike's stomach flu and spent a day throwing up (and my mom caught it from me), and I called Jacob the day after. He said he didn't have flu, but every bit of him was in pain. He promised to let me know when I could start coming around again, either in school or later.

Jacob wasn't in school the next day.

It has begun! It must be so scary and nerve-wracking for Jacob.

Oh yes, and I made a bit of an ahead-of-its-time reference. The line about the way to a woman's heart having shortcuts made of chocolate is a reference to a line from "Total Drama World Tour", which actually came out in 2010. But I couldn't resist. Also, yay for Disney references! I just got Disney+, so I had to.