Moonlight in Forks

Near Kiss

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Edward had insisted on driving Bella to La Push despite her misgivings. The atmosphere in the car was tense. They'd already had another difficult discussion about his overprotectiveness. When they had walked to the underground garage to get to his car, she saw a motorcycle parked next to it. Though to call it that hardly seemed fair. It was big and sleek and silver-even totally motionless-it looked fast.

"Where did that come from?" Bella had asked curiously, thinking it probably belonged to Emmet. It looked like the kind of big, wild machine that Rosalie's mate would ride.

Edward tried to appear casual, as if it was no big deal. "Oh, that's mine."

"Yours?" Bella's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Why on earth would you buy something like that? Oh." As soon as she finished asking the question, realization dawned. She glared at Edward in annoyance.

"I know you enjoy riding your bike, Bella. So, I thought, maybe I could go with you, if you wished." Edward explained nonchalantly.

Bella stared at the beautiful machine, then back at him. A wave of sadness washed over her as she realized, once again, he had failed to understand her. She gazed at him, wondering how she could let him down gently, that riding the bikes was her and Jacob's thing.

But she couldn't find the words, so she went with. "I wouldn't be able to keep up with you."

Edward had put his hand under her chin and pulled her face around so he could see it straight on. "I'd keep pace with you, Bella."

"That wouldn't be much fun for you." Bella answered flatly. Surely by her tone, he had to take the hint.

"Of course, it would, if we were together."

Clearly not.

Bella had sighed, knowing she was going to have to be blunt. "I'm sorry, Edward, but no. You know very well if I was going too fast or losing control of the bike or something, you would freak out. You wouldn't be able to help yourself. You would find some way to save me, even if I didn't need saving. You would baby me. And I don't need or want that. And also, it's – "

"Something you do with Jacob." Edward cut in, his eyes turning bleak. "I see that now."

"Yes." Bella replied honestly.

There was a tiny defensive tightening around Edward's eyes at her answer. "I see." He said again, trying to keep his tone light, but he was clearly upset. "We will say no more about it. I saw Jasper admiring it. Perhaps its time he discovered a new way to travel. After all, Alice has her Porsche now."

Bella had just nodded silently. She wasn't in the mood to try and placate him. But the tension was there, and continued all the way to the reservation.

About halfway to La Push, they rounded the corner and found Jacob leaning against the side of his red Volkswagen. His carefully neutral expression dissolved into a big welcoming smile when he saw Bella wave from the passenger seat of Edward's car.

Edward parked the Volvo about thirty yards away, his face was tight with strain. "I am not so sure about this." He murmured. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all."

Bella glanced at him, hoping she had misheard what he had just said. "I'm getting out of the car now." She said, pushing on the door.

Jacob didn't approach immediately. He knew it was better to let Bella come to him. He didn't want to antagonize Cullen too much; he didn't want the leech to suddenly change his mind about Bella staying in La Push. He could tell, even from this distance, that the guy was having second thoughts. Jacob wanted to be careful, he didn't want to put Bella in a situation where she would have to choose.

Before Bella stepped out of the car, Edward took her completely by surprise, by tightening his arms around her and kissing her with considerable enthusiasm. Bella was overwhelmed by the taste and smell of him. She nearly passed out as she forgot to breathe. When he let her go, she was gasping for air.

"Why did you do that?" She demanded, panting, her eyes flashing with anger.

"It was a goodbye kiss." Edward defended himself, perturbed by her dark mood. "You usually enjoy my kisses."

"Not when they are forced on me just in order to make another guy jealous!" Bella snapped. "You kissed me like you were trying to mark your territory. I won't have it, Edward."

Edward's amber eyes widened with shock and hurt. "Bella, I – "

"Goodbye, Edward." Bella turned away from him, failing to see the flash of panic that lit up his face for a second. She could feel his intense gaze on her back as she walked toward the invisible vampire-werewolf treaty line to meet Jacob.

Jacob's expression was indecipherable as he watched her approach. "I saw what he did. You looked like you were about to punch him. I could do it if you like."

"I handled it." Bella said curtly.

"Okay." Jacob backed down. He saw the frustrated tears in Bella's eyes and knew not to push it. Instead, he shoved away from his car and loped quickly over to her, closing the distance in three long strides. Then he pulled her into one of his comforting hugs. "You'll be okay." He whispered close to her ear.

Bella sniffed, melting against his warmth, her voice muffled as she pressed her face against his bare chest. "I hope so."

In the background, the Volvo's engine growled. Bella pulled away from Jacob, just in time to see the silver car disappearing around the curve in the road.

Bella sat on the floor of the garage watching Jacob. He was hovering over the engine bay of the Rabbit, his nimble fingers adjusting something she couldn't identify. It wasn't the first time she had watched him work, but this was different. Before, he had been a boy, as awkward as she was. Her best friend. Now he was still her best friend, but now he was more mature, almost a man. A graceful and beautiful one at that. He had given up part of his childhood to the pack and the other part to her, and was still trying to prove himself in ways he really didn't need to.

"Hey, Bells. You seem like you're on another planet. What are you thinking about so hard?" Jacob's concerned voice pulled her back into the moment.

For some reason his question made Bella blush. For she had been thinking about him. She felt the familiar heat rise to her cheeks, warming them, but making her feel awkward at the same time. She ducked her head, but already knew he had seen.

"I was thinking about you, actually."

Jacob's whole face brightened up at this admission. "You were?" Her blushing set his heart racing; it was so sugar sweet.

"Yeah." Bella glanced up at him from under her eyelashes. He was looking at her intently in the special way he had, like he could see into her very soul. Sometimes she wondered how he always seemed to know what she was thinking or feeling before she had been able to work it out for herself. Edward may not be able to read her mind, but Jacob could. It was his own special gift.

Jacob came over and hunkered down in front of her, so they were on the same level. "In what way?" He asked.

"I was thinking about how many times I've sat here and watched you work. About how much has changed, about how much you've given up, for the pack…for me."

"I'd do it all again as long it meant I can keep you safe." Jacob said earnestly. His hand reached for her face and cupped her cheek. The heat from his palm warmed her chilled skin, and Bella leaned into it, closing her eyes. "You know how I feel about you, Bella."

"I know." Bella whispered, keeping her eyes closed.

"And that is never going to change." Jacob ran his thumb over her bottom lip, making it quiver slightly.

When he spoke, his deep voice was magnetic, going right to the core of who she was, as if he was able to resonate with all of her at once, when others could barely achieve a fraction of it.

"I'll always be here for you, Bella."

Bella slowly opened her eyes, her hand reaching up to cover his, pressing it harder against her cheek. There were tears in her eyes, making the brown orbs seem almost luminescent. She shifted, her head instinctively moving closer to his, her gaze dropping to his full lips, which were slightly parted as if in anticipation. She heard Jacob's breath hitch, until it was mingling with hers. Their heads were so close now. There was barely an inch of space between them. Their gazes melded and locked….

Who would make the first move?

Neither, as it turned out, because Quil and Embry chose that moment to barge in uninvited.

"Well, well, well." Quil laughed. "What is going on here?"

"Shut up, Quil." Embry hissed, feeling sorry for Bella as he saw the furious blush erupting on her pale skin deepen to a darker red.

Jacob stood up, glaring at Quil, suddenly seeming more like a seventeen-year-old in the presence of his friends. "Cut it out, Ateara" He warned. "Nothing is going on except your overactive imagination."

"If you say so, dude." Quil said, losing interest. He held out a paper sack, while Jacob grabbed a clean rag to wipe the grease from his fingers. "We knew you would be working, so brought you some snacks, and a drink. We didn't know you had company. Hi, Bella."

"Hi, Quil. Hi, Embry." Bella flashed them a weak smile, thankful that the heat from her blush was finally dying down.

"Hi, Bella." Embry returned her smile, seeming embarrassed himself that they may have interrupted something. "How are you?"

"Good. You?"

"Yeah, great." Embry confirmed. He turned and nudged Quil. "Maybe we could leave the food and catch up with Jacob another time." He suggested meaningfully.

Never one to be subtle, Quil snorted with laughter. He had been on a permanent high since turning wolf, glad that his alienation was over, and that he was back in the thick of things with his friends. "I can take a hint. See you later, guys." He chuckled, passing the paper bag to Jacob and following Embry back out of the garage.

Jacob gave Bella a sheepish grin when they were gone. "I'm sorry about them."

Bella returned his grin with a rueful smile of her own. "Don't worry. I'm used to them."

"I guess you are after all this time." Jacob laughed. "Care to share?" He said, pulling the contents out of the bag and arranging it neatly in front of Bella. "It's on Quil."

"Well…if Quil paid for it. Then that's a definite yes." Bella agreed as Jacob's grin turned infectious.

A/N-thanks for reading!