Author Note: So I haven't given up on my other WIP but I needed a break. This is the first Jacob/Bella I've tried. Mostly because there are so many good ones I'm scared mine won't hang lol. But here it is anyway. I don't really know where this story is going yet so just roll with me folks.

And like a whiny, needy child I will need support on this one so good/bad/ugly tell me you're honest opinions. and NO it's not a cougar story lol

Full Summary: This story will be told in Jacob's POV. He's a young college student freshly on his own but what took him so long to leave the nest? Bella is an "older" college student not quite on her own but why is she just now starting her life? Could the two have more in common than they think and is a few years really that big of a deal? This is the story of a real life Jacob and Bella with real life issues.

Thanks to my lil sis Neutron Phantom for beta'ing me so spur of the moment but when the Muse calls she's a demanding bitch!

Table for Two: Chapter 1

Keys, keys… Where the hell are my damn keys? I turned in circles looking around my room. Well, they don't have many places to hide. I looked at my rumpled bed—if you can call it a bed, being a box spring and mattress on the floor. No keys. I looked through the trash and empty cans on my makeshift bedside table, a wood box crate from a produce stand. No keys. I started throwing stuff from my dresser, my one real piece of furniture. Aha! Keys, under the deodorant behind the cologne. So that's where I threw them.

I ran out of my small bedroom and took the four whole steps I needed to get to the living room. "Found 'em." I dangled the keys in front of my roommate who rolled his eyes and lazily got off the used futon that was acting as our couch. He flipped off the fifty-four inch flat screen—hey, priorities—and headed toward the door. Seth Clearwater and I had been living together for only a few weeks but I'd known the kid for years growing up on the Rez.

I made the move to Port Angeles after my dad finally talked me into college. At twenty-one I was a little older than most of the freshmen, but I didn't mind that so much. Seth was nineteen and had been going to school for a little over a year and even got me a job.

"Alright kid, move your ass; we're going to be late."

"Don't call me a kid Jake, you're only two years older than me. It's not my fault you act like a thirty-year-old man all the time." The playful smirk on his face told me he really wasn't bothered by my comments about his age. The truth was sometimes I did feel much older than him but some things in life make you grow up fast I guess.

"You know, for someone so old you'd think you'd keep your shit a little cleaner. What the hell is this?" I turned to see Seth holding up some sort of trash that he picked up off the floor of my old Volkswagen Rabbit. I smirked at him, "a napkin I think," I grabbed it and threw it in the back seat, who has time for cleaning anyway?

~~**~~

"So, next table I'll let you take. And I'll just be over there in case you have any problems, okay?" Seth slapped me on the back and I nodded in confirmation. I could do this; I just hope I wouldn't make an ass out of myself.

I followed Seth out of the break room of the Port Angeles Country Club and into the Men's Grill. I'd been working here exactly one week and still had no idea what the hell I was doing. Most of my work experience centered on fixing cars on the Rez for money. This job was my first real job, but I was thankful that Seth put in a good word for me with the boss. Moving to Port Angeles and leaving Billy was so much easier when I had a job waiting for me.

"Hey man, you alright?"

"Yeah, just a little nervous."

Seth chuckled at me and shook his head. "You got this! It's just a bunch of stale, overweight rich guys smoking cigars and ordering scotch."

I sighed in relief and nodded my agreement. At least I had been lucky enough to get put in the grill with Seth this week for training. I knew that as soon as I was ready they would throw me out to the main dining room full of five-course meals and rich, bitchy women to cater to. Just as I was about to praise the gods for my good fortune I heard our front house manager.

"Seth, take Jacob out to the Palmer Room and help out Bella. She's getting her ass kicked out there." Mike Newton was a nice enough guy to work for, but when we were in the thick of dinner rush he could be a real douche bag. I didn't like the way he weaseled his way around the dining rooms working the guests and kissing ass like it was his job. Well, I guess it was his job.

"Sure thing Mike," Seth turned to me and I tensed up; this was the thing nightmares were made of. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't heard all the horror stories from the rest of the wait staff. "Now or never man," and with that Seth led the way down the long hallway that separated the men's grill from the main dining room.

To say this place was intimidating was an understatement. The main dining room looked like something right out of a magazine, tall ceilings and fancy table settings made it a place that Port Angeles' elite could dine in seclusion and let their superiority shine. For a kid from the Rez, this place wasn't something you ever saw growing up and even though I was a little older than your typical college student I still hadn't seen much of the world. Hell, I hadn't seen anything outside my little town but I had my reasons.

Seth elbowed me in the rib cage and successfully snapped me out of my daze. "Dude, knock it off, never let 'em see you sweat," he smirked at me. "Pretty soon you'll know so much gossip about these people that they will seem laughable to you, not intimidating." Yeah right, I thought to myself as a stuffy old broad with a fur shawl walked by with her nose in the air.

Looking around the room, I took in all the organized chaos going on. Busers and wait staff moved around the room like a choreographed dance group taking orders and delivering food while dazzling the club members with small talk and big smiles. My eyes caught sight of one particular staff member and I immediately felt more at ease.

I watched her small form move around the dining room and a small smile found its way on my face. She was beautiful the way she blushed when one of the older men talked to her, no doubt sweet-talking her. The way her soft brown ponytail swayed back and forth as she moved on to her next table was mesmerizing; the overwhelming urge to touch it made my fingers twitch. The way she nearly tripped on her way back through the kitchen door made me laugh and the big brown doe eyes that met mine when she realized someone saw her took my breath away.

She disappeared behind the swaying door and I snapped out of the trance she had me in. "Dude, if you don't stop spacing out Newton is going to be on your ass," Seth said noticing for the second time in five minutes that I was lost to the world around me, though this time for an entirely different reason.

The lazy smile had yet to leave my face when I looked down at him. "Who was that?"

"Who was who, you spazz? Seriously Jake, get it together. This," he said waving his hand around the dining room, "is Newton's test—sick bastard loves throwing newbies to the sharks to see if they sink or swim."

Right. Work, waiter. Focus Black; get it together. I saluted Seth who rolled his eyes at me but led the way into the kitchen. "Hells Bells, the cavalry has arrived," he shouted at no one in particular turning the corner into the main area of the kitchen where wait staff was picking up food.

"Oh thank god! I thought I'd never get…" My doe eyed angel stopped dead in her tracks and looked up at me as I stood behind Seth. My own eyes grew large as I looked into hers and felt this weird electric hum fill the air; the way she snapped her head down as a deep crimson blush crept up her porcelain skin told me she felt it too.

Seth cleared his throat as he looked between the two of us then giggled—yeah, giggled—"Well Hells Bells, this is Jake. I'm training him this week so I guess you will be too since Newton sent us here to pull you out of the weeds. Where do you need us?"

This comment from Seth seemed to get her mind back on track though. "Great! Um, could you take table eight for me? They just sat down and I really don't want to deal with them tonight… and then maybe just help me clean up table six, my big twelve top just left. After that you can escape back into paradise with your wrinkled old boy toys." She laughed at her own joke loudly and then snorted at the end but quickly snapped her hand over her face. I grinned widely at her as she walked past us mumbling and shaking her head.

"Don't even think about it man," Seth said as he pushed past me waving his hand over his back beckoning me to follow him.

"What do you mean 'don't even think about it'? She's cute," I said catching up to him then slamming into his back when he stopped.

"Listen Jake, I like Bella, a lot. She's a cool chick, but she's… she's too busy and not going to be interested so just stop while you're ahead. Besides, she's too old for you." Too old? How could she be too old? She looked to be about twenty-four, maybe twenty-five. That's not too old and what the hell did too busy mean?

As if sensing my confusion he leaned in closer to whisper, "Bella isn't like everyone else. She's kind and sweet but she's also closed up tighter than Fort Knox so just let her be."

"Well maybe she just needs someone to unfreeze that heart… Someone like me," I mocked his whispered tone back at him.

"Whatever Romeo, not going to happen." And with that we were back out in the dining room heading toward table eight for Bella.

"I prefer Paris, much healthier choice," I said as we reached the table, fortunately there wasn't time for his rebuttal.

"Hello, my name is Seth and this is…"

"Where's Bella?" This over dressed, over stuffed pompous asshat cut off Seth mid-introduction. I looked over Richy Rich as he sat there in his Brooks Brothers suit, all 'sex hair' and pale-skinned and couldn't help but sneer at him. Something about this guy I didn't like.

"I apologize Mr. Cullen, but Bella is very busy at the moment but Jacob and I would be happy…"

"It's fine Seth," an older woman with caramel colored hair and a bright smile said looking pointedly at who I assumed to be her son who was now pouting. Fucking pouting. Priceless.

"Seth, bring us our usual bottle of white and give us a minute to look over the menu please," the kind looking man with blonde hair and bright blue eyes said as he held hands with the older woman. Seth nodded to the table and turned while I waited just long enough to meet the eyes of fire crotch only to have him sneer at me like I was shit on his shoe.

"Who. The. Fuck. Was that?" I asked hot on Seth's tail as he headed to the bar to order the wine.

"That was the Cullens, richest members here. And some of the nicest." Seth replied with a hint of a smile then continued with a look of disdain, "The son though, Edward, spoiled shit if you ask me. Doctor too, just like his dad, but thinks he's entitled to whatever he wants." I laughed humorlessly at this comment.

"And he wants Bella," Seth added and my laughter stopped. "No wonder she wanted me to take this table. He's been after her since she started here a few months ago. Motherfucker even hits on her when his wife is sitting right next to him."

The rest of the night moved along quickly, I pulled my weight in the main dining room and impressed Mike enough for him to tell me starting Monday I'd be on my own. Damn right. It was a good Saturday night and I couldn't wait to get home and celebrate. Bella had successfully avoided Edward Cullen all night, which I was happy about, but at the same time meant I didn't see her because after waiting on him I was back in the Men's Grill for the night.

I clocked out around midnight and went into the break room to gather my things. When I walked in I almost walked right back out. I did that awkward-shuffle-half-turn-then-go-back-in thing twice before that adorable laugh/snort alerted me that she had just witnessed my oh-so-suave move. Nice one Black.

"Hey," was all I could muster out walking into the break room.

"Hey," Bella answered as she pulled her jacket out of a locker. "Jacob, right?" I nodded.

"So, I've been here over a week and haven't seen you. You only work on the weekends?" I asked feeling a little more comfortable; something about her just put me at ease.

"No, um, I've been on vacation?" but the way she asked rather than stated while studying her shoes told me she wasn't exactly in Cancun.

"Ah, well apparently you've been missed." I decided changing the subject would be the way to go but she furrowed her brow confused. "I waited on the Cullens tonight…"

"Oh… Yeah, sorry about that. I hope he behaved himself, but I'm going to go ahead and assume he didn't." Bella sat down at one of the tables and motioned for me to sit across from her. "Edward Cullen can be a little demanding and grouchy when he doesn't get his way, meaning me as their waitress."

"A little grouchy?" I scoffed and grinned at her, "I think Eddie has a crush on the cute waitress." And cue the crimson that brightens up that porcelain skin.

"I think 'Eddie' is a spoiled rich kid who never grew up and should remember he's married to a lovely woman," she quipped back but the annoyance in her eyes unsettled me.

"Has he ever, I mean does he…" Not knowing how to say what I wanted to say I'd hoped Bella would fill in the blanks.

"Naw, he's harmless. A little obnoxious, but harmless nonetheless. Sort of like a gnat." After a few moments of silence Bella stood from the table. "Well Jacob, I'm ready to call it a night but I'll see you tomorrow I assume?"

"Yeah, Sunday Brunch; heard it's a pretty easy shift."

"Yep, keep the coffee filled and the plates cleared and you should do just fine."

"Bella!" I nearly shouted too loudly but I wasn't ready for her to go, "I, um, I was going to go get a drink, you know wind down a bit. After all its Saturday night… would you like to join me?"

A comforting but dejecting smile spread on her face as she touched my shoulder, "Jacob, how old are you?"

"Twenty-one, why?"

Bella sighed and removed her hand; the loss was felt immediately, "Well I'm…not twenty-one anymore. I just don't think it'd be a good idea." I looked down to my hands as my arms rested on my knees. "I'm flattered though, Jacob, I just think you might want to go get a drink with some nice coed from the college rather than…"

I stood up and towered over her suddenly realizing how tiny she really was. She couldn't have been more than 5'4" and the foot of height I had over her suddenly seemed huge. I bent down a little to look her in the eye, "I may be twenty-one Bella but I'm not like most of the guys my age, and I don't think a few years is a huge age difference."

Bella's eyes wildly searched my face while she tried to muster up a response. Luckily for her Seth came in the break room looking for me effectively saving her. "Hey guys," he said not realizing the moment we had just shared.

"Hey Seth," I said moving away from Bella. Though I could stay and talk all night I knew Seth was right, Bella was guarded. Luckily for her, I didn't quit so easily. I turned around. "Can we walk you to your car m'lady?"

"Oh brother," Seth said rolling his eyes while Bella giggled and pushed me from behind all the way out the break room. The three of us said a few good byes to the kitchen staff that was still in clean up mode and headed to the staff parking lot. Bella and Seth made small talk easily and I smiled watching the two of them interact; Seth was a good kid and a great judge of character so his approval of Bella told me a lot.

Once we got to the parking lot I followed Bella's lead to a beat up old truck as she unlocked the door. "Wow, this thing is…"

"Hey, don't rag on the truck." She snapped but the corners of her lips were twitching.

"I was going to say this thing is awesome." I must have surprised her because she arched her brow really high. I pointed to my car that Seth was standing in front of. "I have a thing for old cars I guess. If you ever have any trouble with your beast then you let me know."

She eyed me skeptically before hopping into the cab. "You sure you're only twenty-one Jacob Black?" she asked before closing the door not waiting for my answer. I laughed loudly and offered a small wave before walking over to my car and unlocking it for Seth.

Seth and I spent the next few hours playing Xbox and drinking beer. I didn't mention Bella because I had a feeling he was more protective of her than he was letting on. He did mention that she feels insecure about being older and still waitressing tables but when I asked again about her age and why she was still waitressing he simply said that it wasn't his story to tell.

Around two A.M. I called it a night and was asleep before I hit the bed, after all…the sooner I fell asleep the sooner I would be at work with Bella.

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