DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Twilight series, nor any of these characters, unfortunately. They are from the genius that is Stephenie Meyer. The first two paragraphs are taken straight out of New Moon to set the scene, the rest is just an idea I had that got out of hand.

Jacob was back in seconds. He threw a pile of gray cotton at me. "These will be huge on you, but it's the best I've got. I'll, er, step outside so you can change,"

"Don't go anywhere. I'm too tired to move yet. Just stay with me."

Jake looked at me, puckering his mouth to the side like he was in thought. He nodded once and turned away, hesitating for a moment before sitting with his back against the couch. I bit my lip and contemplated his russet skinned back, so toned and beautiful. He was my best friend, but I pushed that to the side for a moment and placed myself in an alternative universe, where I wasn't Bella Swan, lost and broken, and he wasn't Jacob Black, my best friend who would always want what I would never be able to give him … would I? In this alternative universe, he was just some guy called Jake, and I was some girl called Bella, both perfectly ordinary. Not that I wasn't anyway. I pushed that from my head and focused. What if I could give him what I wanted? It wouldn't be the same as with - I couldn't think his name - but it could still be nice. Jacob was my sunshine, he made me whole. I loved him. I knew that much, and as I slid off my wet clothes and put on his huge dry ones, I considered what it would be like to have him hold me, and love me, and, kiss me. It was only then that I shivered and realised how cold I was still.

Jake dared a glance at me, realising that I must have been changed by now. He got up and pulled me towards the couch, and lay me down on it gently. My lids felt so heavy, and yet I wanted to stay awake, to … experiment. I wanted to try and be this alternative Bella. To see just how whole I could feel. Jacob was hovering over me, being my radiator, my sunshine, watching me closely, studying my eyes. I smiled weakly at him.

"Thank you." I whispered. He smiled a little.

"For what?"

"For just being you." I sat up and wrapped my arms around him, nestling my cheek into his neck. He instantly wrapped his arms around me and kissed my cheek. Neither of us said anything, we were both contemplating the day. I felt so selfish for jumping off the cliff, not that I'd had any idea that Harry Clearwater had died … or that she had been there. I forced myself to think of her. Victoria. The red-haired vampire with a vendetta against me. I shuddered, and closed my eyes tight to fight back tears. I needed to be strong for Jacob, who had been my rock, my sunshine, my world for so long now. And he needed me too. Goosebumps raised on my arms and the back of my neck as I realised just how close we were. All I had to do if I wanted to attempt the alternative universe Jacob and Bella would be to move my head slightly to the left and kiss him. I probably wouldn't even need to do that, just the right angle and I felt sure that he would take the lead.

Jacob ran his fingers through my tangled and still-damp hair, and out of nowhere, a tingle shot down my spine. I gasped, and Jacob instantly dropped his arms from around me, thinking he was taking things too far, as usual.

"I'm sorry -" He began to say, but I put a finger to his mouth, needing a second to compose my thoughts.

"No, it wasn't like that, Jake, it was …" I bit my lip and thought, as Jacob searched my face, clearly trying to understand. "It was nice." He laughed my favourite laugh and pulled me towards him again, but this time under his arm, back to my best friend, all sense of romance gone. I was surprised to realise that I was disappointed. Part of me knew it was wrong, but I still couldn't help but twist myself around to be facing him again. He looked at me surprised, and I coiled one hand up to the back of his head, curling my fingers around his short dark hair. I knew that I was sending out ambiguous signals, but I was still trying to work things out in my head. Now or never.

I took a deep breath and pulled myself so our chests were level, and leaned in closer, staring into his eyes. He took my face in his hands and held me back for a second.

"Bella -" He began to say, but I cut him off, closed my eyes, and pressed my lips gently against his.