CHAPTER 2

*****JACOB POV*****

AS I LEFT BELLA'S and jogged out to my car, I was weightless. I managed to school my face and hide the smile that wanted to spring forth, but I couldn't hide my altered mood. Both Embry and Jared gave me looks when I slid into the passenger seat.

"What happened?" Embry asked.

"Just drive," I said seriously, "we're going to be late. I got the answers we needed."

Embry got the car turned around and headed back toward the Rez, but they weren't going to let it go.

"Yeah, that's great," Jared said, "but what's with the change in your mood?"

Who was I kidding? There was no way I was going to be able to hide what happened. It was the single greatest thing to ever happen to me… the thing I'd been dreaming of for months, maybe even years, if I was honest. I let a small smile spread across my face as I answered.

"I kissed Bella, and she kissed me back." Both of their mouths fell open.

"What the hell man," Jared exclaimed, "she's still a leech-lover. She chose one of those bloodsuckers over you just two days ago."

Embry cast him a quick look of disbelief.

My smile had disappeared, and I glowered at Jared. "Watch what you say, Jared. She's still working some things out, but I think she's finally waking up to how messed up her relationship with Cullen was. She has to get there on her own though. Anyway, she didn't only kiss me. She also told me that she's in love with me. She absolutely would not say that if she didn't mean it." I still couldn't believe it had really happened and saying it out loud felt like a dream.

Embry gave Jared another hard look then glanced over to me and gave my shoulder a teasing shove. "I'm happy for you, Jake. At least now we won't have to listen to your depressed butt being all mopey."

"No, we'll just have to see images of him making out with her." Jared shuddered then leaned back against his seat. "It still doesn't feel right, but I hope for all our sakes that it works out, Jake."

"It'll work out. It may not feel right to you, but nothing has ever felt so right and so real in my life. Something else happened while we were kissing, but I can't make sense of it. It was kinda like what I've seen and felt through your memories, Jared, and through Sam's, from when you each imprinted. It was like the shift started, or maybe more like it wanted to start, but then it just died away."

"Probably just wishful thinking," Jared said.

"Maybe, but one thing I know for sure, my feelings for her are definitely magnified."

"Yeah, your dream girl just kissed you," Embry said, "of course you're gonna feel more."

I just shook my head at him and smiled. Maybe he was right, but it felt like something more than that. I wanted to share the moment with Sam when we phase later and see what he thought. He'd be more objective than Jared, I felt pretty sure.

We made it to the funeral with time to spare, thankfully. Afterwards, we headed to the Community Center for a lunch some of the tribal ladies had prepared for everyone. It was a long, hard morning, not only because of saying goodbye to such a great man, but I found that being away from Bella was like ten times harder than ever before. Maybe because we didn't really get to talk after we kissed, and she confessed her love to me. Does that mean we're a couple now? I would assume so. Sam and Emily came to the same conclusion as well, seeing as how they invited us over for dinner that night.

As soon as we were done eating, Sam and I headed out to do some perimeter checks since no one was on patrol during the funeral. I was glad to have some time alone in wolf form with him to get his thoughts about that feeling I got and the new strength of what I felt for Bella.

I agree with you Jake… it does have that initial feeling like what we experienced with imprinting, but that just doesn't make any sense. I also can't deny that your feelings are stronger for Bella than before. However, you have been hoping and waiting for this to happen for so long… it's a good possibility you've just had a really strong reaction to what happened. You definitely did not imprint on her, though.

Oh, I know… I never meant to imply that I had. Jared thinks it was just wishful thinking and maybe he's right. I guess I just wanted to hear that I wasn't completely delusional to think it felt similar to imprinting, if only for a moment.

No, I don't think you're delusional.

We ran the parameter for another hour or so before Paul and Jared relieved us and I headed home to call Bella.

*****BELLA POV*****

I WANDERED AFTER JAKE toward the door he'd just exited and watched as his car drove away. In a bit of a daze, my heart aching from his sudden departure after my revelation, I stood there looking at the empty street. Now that I was alone and not so overwhelmed by the emotions, I started processing what had just happened.

I'm in love with Jacob. I hadn't seen it coming, but I could not deny it. When I made my decision right before he kissed me, I knew things would change for us, but I had no idea I would uncover this magnitude of feelings for him. I touched my lips and closed my eyes, remembering the kiss… the soft, tender heat… and a kind of electric shiver went through me. I never thought I'd be able to feel so strongly about anyone ever again and it made my head swim a little.

How had I allowed myself to be so blinded? Pining for my supposed "Romeo" whose love had been as fleeting as a dream, when there was another love right here with me, as solid and committed as the moon to its orbit. I had been trying to hold onto a love that no longer existed… to hold onto someone who no longer wanted me. How had I been so foolish and selfish? Why was I still giving my love to someone who doesn't want it and who brought me nothing but pain in the end?

In that moment I realized the cruelness of Edward's actions, making me believe in a love between us and then leaving me like an unwanted object, discarded when he no longer found pleasure in it. I will no longer give him any part of me… he didn't deserve it. But Jacob does. Jacob deserves more than I could ever hope to give him. He has been right beside me for so long, giving me his love while receiving almost nothing in return, helping me to heal.

I could feel it then—the healing. The hole was gone, as if it had never been there. My heart was no longer broken. There was no scar, no reminder of the trauma, and no more pain. The thought of Edward no longer hurt. There was a distant feeling, sort of like missing an old friend or the remembered sadness of a lost love, but not the gut-wrenching, world-ending pain it was before. I got my prince after all, and his kiss broke the spell of pain that had been holding me captive.

"Bella?"

I jumped, coming back to the present, then glanced around. Alice, who I hadn't heard come in, sat in the recliner across from me, studying me. When did I sit down on the couch? I didn't remember moving from the front window.

"What happened?" Alice asked. "You were a million miles away just now. And something's different…" She trailed off, her eyebrows bunching as she continued to analyze me.

My cheeks heated in both excitement and embarrassment as I met her gaze. I was a bit hesitant to share this new information with my friend, knowing she may not approve.

After a moment, I went ahead and shared my news, speaking quietly. I couldn't keep the tender smile off my face.

"Jacob kissed me… and I kissed him back." I unconsciously touched my lips again, and Alice's eyebrows shot up.

"You what?" Her tone was disbelieving and had an edge of reproach. "What were you thinking, Bella? Young werewolves are so unpredictable and volatile."

Her accusation brought out a surprisingly strong defensiveness in me.

"Don't judge him like that. You don't even know him, Alice." It came out harsher than I intended, so I softened my tone a bit before continuing. "I love him, and he loves me, and he would never hurt me. He has way more control than you're giving him credit for."

"Calm down, Bella. I'm just worried for your safety. You have obviously been around Jacob a lot lately and nothing has happened, but it just takes one time of him losing control…"

I looked away, Emily Young's misshapen face flashing through my mind, diffusing my anger a bit. "I know the risk," I said quietly, looking back at Alice. "But I trust Jake completely. It comes much easier for him… probably because he has the wolf bloodline on both sides of his family. He thinks it makes him less human, which I don't agree with at all, but it definitely gives him much better control. I've seen it. I've also heard the other guys talk about what a "natural" he is. He already has almost as much control as the oldest of them, Sam, who phased the first time over a year ago. He would never hurt me, Alice."

"It's just…" She paused. "I mean, I don't understand how this happened so suddenly."

"It actually wasn't sudden." I gave her a small smile. "My feelings for him have been growing for a long time now, I just didn't see it before. I was too focused on my pain and what I'd lost to see it, or to even see that it was possible. Jake has been there for me and I'm not sure what would have happened to me if it weren't for him. My heart doesn't feel broken any more… like it never was broken."

"That's quite the claim Bella." She hesitated before continuing, studying me some more. "So, you don't miss Edward anymore?"

I considered this for a minute, and I felt only irritation at what he'd done to me. I shook my head, opting not to tell her about my irritation, though I'm not sure I kept it from showing in my eyes.

"Maybe a little… but more in the way I miss Carlisle or Esme, or you when you're gone."

"Hmmm…" was all she said, then her eyes went distant for a few moments.

"What? What is it? Did you see something?" I asked, suddenly concerned.

"Very little, only flashes." She sighed in resignation. "But you are always happy and full of life. I can no longer see very much of your future at all. Which would make sense if your future is with Jacob. This is quite unusual Bella, and maybe a little risky, but I can see you are very certain of your path now."

"I don't feel like it's a risk at all. Certainly healthier than living the broken life I have been living… if you can call it living. I know you're just concerned for me, but you have no more reason to be worried about my safety with Jake than he does about my safety with you." I raised a brow and gave her an emphatic look, trying to make her see they both had unwarranted biases.

She put her hands up in concession… whether she agreed or not, she wasn't going to press the issue any further.

"It's definitely a big shift, and a lot for me to process… and not what I expected at all. But it feels like…" I paused trying to think of the right words. "Home. I feel like I've found my way home after being lost for a very long time."

Jacob was my home. That realization rang so true deep inside me… down in my soul. I had never felt anything like it before… such surety. No mater what happened or where life took me, as long as I had Jacob there, I could handle anything.

She shook her head. "It is incredible. As much as I have reservations about the whole thing, I can't deny that you look so different than you did even right before I left an hour ago. I would say you look like your old self, but it's different even from that… happier, more content."

She sighed then continued. "Well, this certainly changes things. Maybe it would be best if I left now." She started to rise from her seat. "I know it will make Jacob and the rest of them much more comfortable if I weren't here."

I jumped up and grabbed onto her arm to stop her… not that I actually could stop her.

"No, I don't want you to leave yet. Though I don't feel like I need you to be here like I did before, I want you to stay for as long as you can. I still love you Alice, and I'll miss you when you're gone. I wish very much that Jake could see how wonderful you and the rest of your family are. He doesn't really like it, but he understands about my feelings for you. I'll just have to split my time while you're here, because I can't stay away from Jake the whole time. I already miss him so much. But you just got here, and I don't know when, or if, you'll ever come back. So, I really would love to spend a little more time with you."

She gave me an uncertain look. "If you're sure it won't cause problems for you, I guess can stay a few more days."

"It won't. I'll figure out some kind of schedule to be able to see you both."

"Alright," she relented, "I called Jasper and Rosalie yesterday to let them know my vision of you drowning was incomplete and you are still alive, so they knew I was planning to stay awhile longer. I also need Carlisle to call me when he gets back. But I can't stay for too much longer. I miss my Jasper too."

"Of course," I agreed readily and threw my arms around her. "Thank you, Alice!" She hugged me back with a trill little laugh.

"You go back to school tomorrow?"

"Yes," I answered with a heavy sigh, "but for today, Jake is going to call when he gets home from the funeral, and I'll go to see him then. I don't have any more homework I need to do, so we can spend some time together until then. I do want to finish the cleaning though."

Alice agreed to the plan, and I went back to working on the cleaning while she watched me work and we chatted some more. At some point while working in the kitchen my thoughts started to drift. I was enjoying being with Alice, I had missed her so much, but I also found myself anxiously glancing at the clock. I was missing Jake and wanted to be back with him, back in his warm arms. The thought caused excited butterflies in my stomach and made me smile… and blush. It also reminded me again of the frustration of the situation that my two best friends couldn't stand to be around each other... afraid they might kill each other. I shook my head.

"Hello? Bella? What are you thinking about? You're obviously not listening to me anymore." Alice said, slightly irritated.

I looked up at her apologetically, "I'm sorry, my mind was wandering… I was just thinking about Jake."

"Oh, well that would explain why you were blushing. But not the sad look on your face."

"I just hate how my two best friends can't stand to be around each other. I don't want my time with you to end, but I am also missing Jake terribly… I've always missed him when we were apart, but this is more intense than ever before." I sighed sadly, "There just isn't any easy answer."

"I'm sorry that you have to be so torn, Bella. Truly. But if he doesn't feel comfortable being around me, then it definitely would not be a good idea to push it."

"I know."

Once I finished the cleaning and had some lunch, we hung out on the couch while I waited for the last load of laundry. About an hour later, as I was putting the laundry away, the phone rang. My stomach jumped in excitement as I ran to answer it.

"Jake?"

"Hey Bella. I'm home now. Can you still come down?"

"Yes, I'll head down in just a little bit." I had what I was sure was a ridiculous eager smile plastered to my face.

"Okay, I'll see you soon." I could hear the excitement in his voice as well, so I felt a little less ridiculous.

I hung up and turned to Alice. "Sorry to leave while you—"

"It's fine Bella," she cut me off. "I will be at my house. Let me give you my cell phone number, in case you need to reach me." She quickly scribbled her number on the pad of paper by the phone and I pocketed the slip of paper.

She agreed that she would come back over when I got home and spend the night at my house, and with a quick peck on the cheek, she flitted out the door.

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