*DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to the Twilight Saga and its characters. This is purely artistic fiction drawn with inspiration from Stephenie Meyer's words.
*CONTENT WARNING: Brief sexual discussion.
Jake closed the gap between them, softly meshing his lips with hers. He was tentative in his approach, worried that too much affection too fast would scare her away. Little did he know, it led to a polar opposite reaction. Dormant feelings stirred within Bella, trickling in slowly, and then all at once, a simultaneous flood of comprehension washed over her.
She didn't just love him—she was in love with him.
With her newfound clarity, she came to the conclusion he was her soul-mate. As much as she tried to fight falling in love so soon, there was no stopping this. The connection between them was potent, blissfully inescapable. It could not be broken, no matter the distance, and no matter how much time passed. Even when apart, they were intertwined, always holding space in each other's heart. It compelled them, drawing them back to one another. Home wasn't a place, a feeling, or between four adjacent walls, under one roof. Home for her was a person, and not just any person. Him. Jacob.
Alone, Bella was a capable young adult. She could do anything she put her mind to, but with him, she thrived. He was everything she needed—sunshine incarnate—lighting up all the dark facets of her past and present. Jake was attentive; he listened to her, valued her thoughts and opinions. He may have had different viewpoints toward some of her decisions, but he didn't express them with passive aggressive judgement or angry resentment. They were completely in sync, like cogs within a finely tuned machine.
Bella adored his kind, genuine, albeit optimistic nature. It was refreshing. He didn't tiptoe around her, and he didn't treat her like she was a doll. Jake made her incredibly happy. When they were together, Bella's face stung from smiling. She couldn't help but laugh at his seemingly endless wit and cringy dad jokes. Not a quaint little giggle, either. She'd be laughing so hard she gasped for air, stomach muscles cramping as happy tears streamed down her face, unable to do anything except wildly clap her hands like a seal.
A prominent memory from the past eclipsed Bella's train of thought...
Jake's rich copper skin contrasted against the wrinkled, cream-colored dress shirt he wore. It was a size entirely too small. The top three buttons remained undone, thin material clinging to every curve of his muscular upper body. Black jeans hugged his toned yet lean legs, haphazardly laced boots completing his dress attire. His long raven hair was tied into a low ponytail, several loose strands framed his piquant face. The outfit didn't seem very fancy, but Bella knew it came out of the hard earned money from his savings.
Bella was dressed in her bridal gown: a satin, form-fitting, silver-white dress with delicate lace details adorning her wrists. The style boasted a modest v-neck and an illusion cut out that displayed her back, transitioning into a row of perfect silk buttons. The bottom of the dress billowed freely around her ankles in the wind. Its sweeping silhouette gathered by a singular loop attached to the bottom of her train for ease of walking. Sadly, she did not choose her dress; it was picked for her.
An ornate hair comb added sparkle to her waist length, chestnut brown hair. It was drawn into a bun, a simple braid following the circumference. Typically, she abhorred makeup, but Alice forced her into complying to her demands. Blush on the apples of her cheeks, a light coat of mascara, and some matte lipstick that gave her full lips a slight pout. She was positively radiant.
The sun had set; thick bands of pink, orange, and crimson lingered, eventually dissolving under the shroud of nighttime. Darkness blanketed the sky, brilliant and sparse starlight speckling the heavens above. Strings of fairy lights now dimly illuminated the makeshift dance floor, wedding reception and around the house perimeter. While discussing her unknown honeymoon destination plans with another guest, Seth alerted Bella of Jake's late arrival. Sam allowed him to forego patrol, if only for a little while, in order to say his goodbyes.
She exited the packed reception, accepting his invitation to dance with him on a flat patch of grass further toward the tree line. Jake carefully lifted Bella onto the tops of his shoes, swaying with her to the distant lull of music. Because of her clumsy nature, she stumbled and fell off a lot, but Jake steadied her and Bella resumed her uneven stance on his toes. Despite his menacing stature, he exuded a soothing and gentle energy. She trusted him enough to allow him to hoist her and twirl her in time with the beat. Everything was serene and perfect. Her heart was full.
Bella plummeted willingly into the twin pools of his expressive umber-colored eyes. Jacob's laugh lured her in like a ship on the ocean; a lighthouse along the sand laden shore, guiding her to sanctuary from the fierce storm. His velvety smooth voice was a healing balm to her jagged soul. He was beautiful. Inside and out. As he smiled down at her, she forgot about her involuntary prison of cloth, the social responsibilities of the event, and all about her husband. It was just them.
In a twist of ironic fate, she fell in love with her best friend in those fleeting moments. Bella couldn't help it. The time spent with Jake was significantly better than the ceremony and uncomfortable reception, not to mention her aloof partner. A roaring supernova engulfed her heart, swallowing it whole in its all-consuming wake. Their shared happiness was interrupted by the vitriol of her would be groom. He condemned Jake for showing up unannounced and apparently kidnapping his wife.
The callous argument between the two men that followed filled Bella with dread. She stood there, pining for another reality where she married Jake instead. She distanced herself from him in order to prevent a confrontation, lying to herself and breaking both their hearts. Her acrid words left a foul taste in her mouth. The way Jake looked at her when she pushed him away—doleful, trying to comprehend her foreign behavior—she wanted to be sick.
"Let us return to the wedding, Bella. Your guests are missing you." Edward hissed, locking her delicate wrist between his much larger thumb and index finger. He yanked her from Jake's arms in one swift motion that left her dizzy.
"Take your filthy hands off her, corpse! You can't even touch her without hurting her." Jake accused, sharing Bella's grimace of pain. He puffed up menacingly, looming over the smaller of the two men, a growl rumbling from deep within his chest. Edward released her, but only as a second thought.
"I'm okay..." She shook her woozy head. Edward's empty topaz eyes darted from Bella's wrist, back to Jacob's darkening eyes. An angry bruise was already forming under the skin that she now rubbed in an attempt to soothe the throbbing pain.
"I won't let him treat you like this, Bells. It's not right—" Jake began.
"—I think it's time you leave. She doesn't want you here." Edward glowered, disgust rampant on his hollowed alabaster face.
"You don't speak for her, leech," Jake shouted, his demeanor softening as he turned to face her, "Bella, you don't have to do this. He looks at you the same way a starved lion does a slab of meat. He doesn't love you—he's gonna use you up and throw you away!"
"Jake," she croaked, averting her gaze. Fiery tears welled within her eyes, burning as they spilled over onto her rosy cheeks. She had to separate them. Bella wouldn't risk Jake's life by provoking Edward. Witnessing vampire strength firsthand terrified her.
"Just say the words, honey. I'll take you away. I'll prote—"
"Go away," she meekly grit out. A metaphorical knife into his heart.
Jake's eyes widened in disbelief, his mind struggling to process this unexpected revelation. He could feel the weight of the conversation settling heavily on his shoulders. All the air was stolen from his lungs, like an agonizing punch to the gut. Despite his shock, he composed himself and simply stared at her, trying to make sense of it.
"You don't mean that." He replied, shaking his head. Jake reached for her. Edward snaked his frozen arm around Bella's waist, pulling her in forcibly and pushing her somewhat behind him.
"Open your flea-bitten ears, mongrel. She doesn't want you here." Edward declared. A proud sneer curled on his crooked lips.
"Bella..." Jake whispered, ignoring Edward's comment. His large hand still outstretched toward her, fingers relaxed, the muscles in his arm taut as it trembled. "Wait a minute, please."
"I never want to see you again!" she cried, hidden by Edward's cold frame. Bella secretly hoped Jake wouldn't believe her, but she was wrong. At least he wouldn't be in danger. She did what she had to in order to keep him safe. Breathing.
"If that's what you want."Jake said softly, his voice choked with emotion. She felt a lump form in the bottom of her throat as she peeked at him from behind Edward's shoulder. It was as if an unforgiving sword had been plunged into her chest, twisting and turning with unrelenting force. Jake's sable eyes were glassy, his nose crinkled from her blatant rejection. Liar.
Sam and the rest of the pack sensed Jake's tension, instantly forming a circle around the three of them. They were there as a precaution. To stop any possibility of shifting in front of curious wedding guests that had gathered along the side of the Cullen's house. Jacob wasn't angry—he was broken.
"Is everything okay?" Sam asked.
"No, it certainly is not." Edward stuck his pointed nose up. "Call off your pup. His presence is upsetting my bride and ruining our wedding."
"Is that true, Bella? What happened?" Embry looked between them, confusion marring his expression.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Quil carefully stepped forward, placing a hand on Jake's shoulder.
"All of you—go away. I never want to see any of you ever again."Bella stated with conviction, throat tightening from the iron grip of her sadness. The final nail in the coffin. There would be no fight.
Jake couldn't believe his ears. She was actually telling him to leave. He desperately wanted to stay, to refute her bald faced lie, but there was nothing he could do. Bella had decided and there was no changing it. He had to respect her choice, even if it was wrong. She chose them—Edward—over him.
There was a heavy silence before the pack disappeared into the edge of the forest, one by one. Each held a melancholy expression on their faces.Jake was the last to go, wistfully glancing back at her, exploding into an enormous blur of russet fur once he was far enough past the tree line. Difficult minutes elapsed, and a howl that chilled her to the bone permeated the air. He prayed she would be safe and happy. That's all he wished for.
The fire within her heart, which burned for Jacob, remained voiceless, enduring for 1,486 long days. She attempted to push any memory of him far from her mind. Thankfully, Bella failed at her misguided venture. When she saw him at the auto shop, the embers that had been smoldering for so long rekindled. The two of them were together again; a flicker of hope that propelled her forward. Despite her awry, somber experience with first love, she was undeterred. Bella wanted to try again. She'd get it right this time.
Before she could take that leap, to fully give her heart, mind, and soul to Jake—she had to relearn to trust.
There was another growing issue. Both of them were consenting adults with grown-up desires. One kiss wouldn't kill either of them, but there was something more beneath the surface. Something unpredictable and deliciously wanton. These feelings were bubbling to the surface with her returning love, coursing through her body like an implacable river. They brought a flush of heat to her cheeks and a flutter in her chest. Desire. Lust.
She recalled her unsatisfactory previous marriage, which was virtually abstinent. The single exception being her wedding night. It was the first time Bella had sex, and the last time since. Disappointingly, there was zero connection, nor pleasure. It was the most boring, miserable sixty seconds of her life. Her ex-husband was so consumed with his thoughts, he didn't last more than a few thrusts before he left her to dress alone in the dark. Bella felt cheated; embarrassment heating her tear-stained cheeks, and fury rising in her chest. She waited patiently to lose her virginity, begrudgingly agreeing to matrimony. Yet, her over-anticipated first time was a certified disaster.
To add to her disappointment, she was denied every time she attempted afterward. Bella was shamed if she pushed the issue, believing she was this libidinous slut. It made her self-conscious. His silence and aloof attitude toward her fed into her negative body image and self-destructive behavior. She concluded the reason he didn't want sex with his wife was because something was wrong with her... Maybe it was the way her lower tummy pooched out when she was slouching. Perhaps it was the full, healthy apples of her rosy cheeks. Bella didn't understand it wasn't her that was the issue—it was him. It was always him. He had outdated morals and only wanted her because of the call of her blood.
Suddenly, she was pulled from her incessant thoughts and back into the present, her body moving of its own accord. Her lips parted, allowing him easier access. Jake responded eagerly, angling her chin and deepening their kiss. His hands found purchase on either side of her quaint waist, moulding her against his towering figure. It was a type of heaven she'd never known and desperately didn't want to leave behind. Lost within their ardor, each of them tangled in euphoric rapture.
The kiss eventually broke, and they both reluctantly pulled away. Bella was as breathless as Jake, her cheeks flushed with arousal. His eyes were glazed over, an awestruck stupor plastered across his face.
"That was..." Bella began, mentally incapable of completing her sentence.
"Amazing," Jake finished, his voice low and husky.
A deep blush crept over the planes of her cheeks. Bella hid her face in his chest, relieved and yet abashed that he seemed to feel the same way. She wasn't sure what came next, but was certain of one thing: she would welcome it with open arms.
"Embarrassed, Bells?" He purred, hooking his index and middle finger under her chin.
"N-no," she startled, "I was just thinking about how nice it was. I want more." Bella's face fell at her pointed brashness.
He rubbed his right thumb along the thickest part of her flushed cheek, a warm smirk planted on his lips. There was something else there, hidden behind his eyes. A hint of sadness.
"Me too." He murmured.
Jake leaned forward and pressed a pensive kiss to her forehead, that wrinkled in question. Bella took this moment to inhale a deep breath of his musky, woodsy scent. It strangled her rational thoughts.
"What's with the sad look then?" She asked, reclaiming her consciousness seconds later.
"I'm not sad." Jake recalculated, lost in thought. "Maybe I am. A little." He admitted.
Bella struggled to think of a response before she settled on one single word. "Why?"
"I know I can't keep you here to myself." He pulled back to peer into her half-lidded bronze eyes, savoring her distracted expression.
"Oh," Bella blinked, "what time is it?"
He glanced at his bed and scanned the small alarm clock angled in the corner beside it.
"It's a little after one. Do you have something you need to do? I can take you back to get your truck."
"No, I don't have any plans beside cooking dinner for Charlie." She relaxed, leaning into his heated touch.
As if the universe was listening in on their conversation, Bella's cellphone went off in her back pocket. Trading Mistakes by Freak Out! At The Dance Party blared loudly, slightly muffled by the fabric of her jeans. She fumbled for it, pulling it out. Bella flipped open her outdated, clunky black phone. A gift from her mother years ago that still had prepaid minutes on it for emergency situations. She hadn't used hardly any of them, except to call her dad when she left Alaska.
"Hello?" she said hesitantly, expecting her mother to answer.
"Hey Bells, what're you up to? I tried the house and there wasn't any answer." It was Charlie.
"Yeah, I'm in La Push, sorry dad." Bella replied softly.
"Right, I forgot. Uhh, are you at Billy's?" He quizzed.
"No, I'm at Jake's." She nodded, threading her fingers through her hair.
"Same thing. Tell him I said hi. I was calling to let you know I'm staying at the station late tonight. Too much work to be done and we're shorthanded. Johnston is still recovering from the incident in Seattle."
"I will. Are you gonna have dinner if you're staying late?"
"I'll have some takeout delivered," he paused. "Don't worry about me, kiddo. I managed just fine when you were gone."
"I know," she scowled, her eyes fluttering shut with frustration. "I just wanna make sure you eat something that isn't smothered in grease or deep fried."
"Once this week isn't gonna kill me, honey. Anyway, I gotta get off the phone. Daylights a burnin'."
"Bye dad. Love you." She whispered into the mouthpiece.
"Love you, too. Buh-bye, sweetheart. See ya tomorrow."
Bella closed her flip phone and defeatedly crossed her arms. She worried about Charlie's potentially clogged arteries. Jake tilted his head off to the side in question. With his heightened senses, she knew without a doubt that he heard every single word of their conversation.
"He's changed a lot. No curfew or nothin'?" He chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess it's the whole adult thing. He practically begged me to spend some time outside of the house." The cogs turned for a moment. Slowly clicking into place. Her dad didn't expect her home... he wanted her to spend time with Jake. Not that she was complaining about hanging out with a gorgeous, almost seven foot tall man. One she was inconveniently in love with.
"I have a spare bedroom," he started, "or you could sleep on my bed and I'll crash on the couch downstairs."
"I wouldn't want to put you out, it's your house and you already fed me." She frowned. A second ago, she was determined to jump his bones. Now she was scared to stay the night? She never cared when they were kids. What was the difference? Years of repressed feelings and unresolved relationship trauma, Bella scoffed mentally.
"You're not. Remember what I said earlier? My wealth is your wealth." A wicked grin spread across his face like a wildfire. "Besides, we could stay up late watching old movies."
Bella found that thought appealing. Snuggled up on the couch beside him. The lull of a stupid romantic comedy in the background. Better yet, the gore of a scary movie enticed her.
"I like the sound of that." She grinned, "but unfortunately, all my stuff is at my dads."
"I don't suppose anything I say would persuade you to come with me to the store to buy spares to keep here, can I?"
"I have nothing to sleep in." Bella pouted, losing her argument.
"I have clothes, honey. They might be super big on you, but I'm sure they'll do the trick."
Jake was giving it his all while staying innocent in his pursuit. Truth be told, he really just wanted to make up for lost time. He missed her, imprint aside. Bella chewed her bottom lip, debating the pros and cons on whether she should stay. Pro: cuddling her best friend. Pro: relaxing and getting to relive her youth in a safe environment. There were no cons she could think of. Could staying the night the first time they saw each other after four years count as rushing to third base? Did that make her morally corrupt? Bella threw her hands up, surrendering to his sound logic.
"Okay, okay. I'll stay." She crossed her arms, watching his bemused expression.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?" He coiled his arms around her midsection and lifted her off the ground, twirling her about in his room.
"Put me down, you big palooka." Bella squeaked, nausea returning to her center. He aptly listened to her request and gently set her back on her wobbly feet.
"Sorry. I got too excited." Jake shrugged. "Would you mind tagging along on a trip to the grocery store?"
"Maybe. Such short notice... I'll have to pencil it in. You'd be interrupting movie marathon time."
"It won't take long. Just enough for dinner tonight."
"What's on the menu, chef?" She joked.
"I'm not sure yet. I'll know when we get there."
"You're not much of a planner, huh?"
"No, I'm really not. I leave the scheduling to Embry. That way the shop doesn't fall apart." He laughed.
They left through the front door a few minutes later, playfully bickering all the way to Jake's four-car garage. Bella was amazed. His workshop was massive, nearly half the square footage of his house. Tons of automotive parts littered the wraparound benching and shelves. She counted six vastly different heavy duty tool boxes, most were on wheels and of varying sizes. The rest were taller than her.
In no particular order, Bella noticed the multiple cars and motorcycles. The softtail was among them, propped up on its kickstand. Jake appraised each one until he reached the last one in front of the left automated door. If memory served her correctly, it was a newly restored Ford Mustang. Bella wasn't sure of the year, but the square body hinted that it might have been late sixties. The muscle car was mesmerizing. Glossy cherry red paint gleaming in the fluorescent overhang light. Shiny chrome details. The engine roared to life as Jake revved it up, the idle purr echoing off the thin walls. Bella felt a thrum of excitement as she climbed into the passenger seat.
"This is a mustang, right?" She asked, sure of herself.
"That's right, oh wise one." Jake beamed. He was proud of her car knowledge.
He pulled out of the garage, slowly backing down the winding drive. Bella messed with the updated radio, attempting to put on a FM channel but all she managed was static.
"I'm sorry, Bells. I didn't know you wanted to listen to music." He murmured. "AM/FM is busted, all she can do is play CD's."
"That's fine." She replied flippantly.
"Can you open the glove compartment? My stash is in there."
"Stash? You make it sound like you have illicit drugs in there," she chuckled, popping the compartment open and pawing the large worn flip folio. She unzipped the case, browsing through the sleeves. Most of it was classic eighties rock, some hair metal and nineties grunge. Bella popped a Clinkin' Perk CD into the player.
Everything was right with the world.