Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

Bella was always so timid, or some say spineless. Maybe she was just so self-deprecating she couldn't see herself clearly. Jacob was carefree and happy-go-lucky. How did that fit with a character that was so quick to give up and be down on himself?

I think a turning point in this story could have been right when Bella and Jacob returned to her house and he smelled a vampire. She was so torn right in that moment. Unsure of where her life was headed. I also think it was too convenient that Sam, Jared, Embry and Paul didn't know what the Cullens smelled like. Really? They patrolled the forest for all that time. Too tidy of a box.

A/U

JPOV

How do I leave her here in this house alone after what has happened today? Does she really think I am so blind that I don't know what is going on with her? She jumped off a cliff for crying out loud. In the middle of a storm, no less. I don't know what was going through her mind, but I'm going to have to do something drastic soon with this girl.

As I pull up in front of the old weathered white house I drew a deep breath and parked. We'd just spent the afternoon together asleep on the couch. Harry had died. There was a psychotic vampire after Bella. It was all together perfect. Ha. Not.

"Bells," I said at the same time she turned my way. I could tell something was running through her mind. As always, she was overthinking everything. We were teenagers for crying out loud and she acted like we had to make our entire life plan right now.

She glanced up at my face and held my stare. I gave her a tight smile and she laid her head on my shoulder.

"Are you okay?" I ask her for at least the 20th time since we left the cliffs.

"No," she whispered back, barely a breath.

"What's going on with you? I mean, really going on? I know that Edward and the Cullen's moved away, but that was 5 months ago. It's time to pull yourself together, you know?" I said back, staring out the window, not wanting to look her in the eyes afraid of how she'd take my directness.

"I'm 16 and your 18. Why do we have to be committed to a decision that will last us a lifetime right now? Do people really need to settle down and get married at our age? Do they all decide what career they want to have until they retire? It's okay for plans to change."

"Jake…I thought he was my forever," she said sadly.

"Bells, most teenagers are running around trying to figure out what they're going to do next Friday. I think you need to take things a little less seriously for a while," I leaned my head down and rested it on hers, and then I lifted my arm and rested it across her legs.

We sat in silence for a while, both consumed with our thoughts. It was killing me having no idea what she was thinking about the things I said to her, but I didn't want to rush her either. I know what a freaking over-thinker she is. It can be a tad annoying sometimes, like now. Yet, I knew if I pushed her to a decision, I'd be unhappy with the one she'd make.

"You want to go for a ride?" I asked her impulsively. I turned my body a little in the seat and smiled at her, hoping to get her to say yes.

"What? Like now? When I'm all gross and covered with salt water?" she questioned.

"We don't have to get out anywhere public. Come on, go with me," I pushed her.

"What about Victoria?" she replied, as she killed my hope. Damn.

"Wherever we go, the wolves have to follow anyway. We won't go far. Say yes. Please," I gave her my best puppy dog eyes, and pushed my lower lip out to make it as pathetic as possible.

She snorted and then nodded her consent. Awesome!

I shifted the truck into gear and pulled back out on the road. I wasn't sure where we were going to go, but I wasn't ready to leave her. Of course, the safest place was La Push, so I turned back and headed that way.

After I drove down the main road, inspiration struck. I quickly turned onto a side road and headed toward a place I knew Bella had never been. The truck wouldn't make it off the paved road, so I parked and hopped out. I reached behind the seat and grabbed a hoodie I knew that Bella kept there for emergencies.

We met at the front of the truck and I heard crunching in the woods.

"Hang on a sec, somebody's coming," I said.

I heard a gasp from Bella so I quickly reassured her it was pack. Right after that, Paul walked out of the woods, a solemn look on his face. He jerked his head to the side to let me know he wanted to talk to me away from Bella.

"Wait in the truck while I talk to Paul, okay?" I looked at her and could hear her heart racing. I kissed the top of her head and heard her heart skip a beat. She sat back down and closed the door.

We walked about 10 feet away, and I asked him what the heck was up.

"We smelled a Cullen at the Swan's house," he looked away.

"Are you kidding me? Who was it? Was it him?" I asked, worried.

"No, it's a female. Jared and Sam are checking it out but Sam ordered me to stick to you guys like glue. But you're about to take her to 'Make out Point' so I'm not sure how close I want to get right now," he smirked at me.

"Don't worry, dude, I'm not gonna interfere with your moves, okay?"

"You're a dick, Paul, but thanks for letting me know," I said, then gave him a swift punch to the arm.

"Back at you, fucker," he loped off, as I headed back to get Bella out of the truck.

I grabbed her hand and led her up the sandy path to the place Paul was calling "make out point." Only a perv like him would say something like that. Not like I wouldn't make out with her if I could…of course, this got me started on the path of dreaming.

When we reached the top, Bella finally spoke. "Where are we? It's pretty dark."

I yanked the cover off a pile of wood and pulled my zippo out of my pocket to light the kindling that was under the wood already stacked in the fire pit. The pack used this sometimes but it was only us. We always had it ready to use. It took a bit of fussing to get it going, but finally we had a nice warm fire. I sat on the ground against the log Bella was perched on.

Her thigh was beside my head so I leaned over and rested it against her. Her fingers started trailing their way through my hair. I wrapped my hand around her ankle and brushed my fingers up under the edge of her jeans.

It was easy sitting there staring at the fire. It was hypnotic in its own way. The flames licking up the logs, the blue waves rolling up and down the logs. The bright red of the log as it glowed and the smoke as it billowed over the pile.

Suddenly, the logs shifted and fell down further into the pit. I reluctantly let go of her leg and leaned to grab some more logs to toss onto the fire. Naturally, one rolled and was leaning out of the pit. I had to get up and shove it back in.

Though, when I sat back I was surprised to find that Bella had moved onto the ground so I was sitting beside her now.

"Thanks for bringing me here. Are you planning on telling me what's going on with Paul?" she asked.

I sighed and thought about what to say. I hated lying to her but was there really anything to say at this moment.

"Can I wait until I know more?" I stared at her, gauging her response to my answer.

"What does that mean? I'll wait if you want me to, but that's a weird answer."