Disclaimer –Owning Twilight would make my entire life, but sadly Stephenie chooses to crush my dreams.  But… she kinda has that right.

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my 100th reviewer! OMG! I can't believe I have over 100 reviews. That reviewer just happens to be my friend, XxInuyasha4everxX. Thank you everyone who's made that possible!

Last time Jacob had decided to play nice and try to earn more brownie points.

Bizarre Love Triangle

Chapter 9 – Hope and Despair

Jake's POV

My face hurt.

Before now, I really didn't believe that you could smile enough to make your face hurt. Now I understood.

I was ecstatic that I'd finally found a way to make all of us happy. Every single one in this screwed up triangle.

I knew it wouldn't last. I would want more. Edward would want less of me. Bella would find out. There were so many dangerous possibilities.

Our relationship was balancing on a tightrope right now. As soon as one person decided they had enough, it would throw the whole thing off balance.

But, right now, I really couldn't think about that. I kept on grinning. I missed smiling. I hadn't done it for ages and I wanted to do it as much as I could while my good mood lasted.

Billy was about ready to put me in an insane asylum. He thought I was getting depressed, and now here I am sitting at the kitchen table, just grinning. Every once in a while I'd laugh. That was another thing I missed.

My pack had a different reaction. They gave me stiff, awkward congratulations because they felt they had to. They really didn't mean it. They thought this whole thing was sick and wrong.

The whole pack was having one of their bonfires tonight. With the legends and everything. I though it would be a perfect chance to test out my new freedom to be with Bella.

I did call Bella last night like I promised. I was tired of being the bad guy. We talked for an hour straight. About everything and nothing, we missed each other.

The scary part was at the end. Bella said that Edward told me goodbye and to sleep well. I shivered with pleasure, just remembering that he bothered.

I picked up the phone to dial her number and something stopped me. Somehow I didn't feel like I should be calling. I really couldn't figure out what it was, but it was definitely nagging.

That's when it hit me. Bella still thought I was in love with her. I had no clue how to fix that, no clue how to make us just be friends, with no awkwardness. I thought it was funny how I totally forgot about that. I laughed out loud. Billy peeked in, obviously worried for my mental health again.

I decided that the best way to show her I was over her was to act normal, act how a best friend would. That should be easy.

I finally picked up the phone to call, still feeling a bit uneasy, but I pushed all my doubts aside.

After what seemed like hours of ringing, she picked up. "Hello?"

"Hey, Bells!"

"Jake!"

And we just took a moment to marvel the fact that we were talking to each other again.

She finally broke it. "So, Jake, I'm glad you called, but we just talked last night, so was there some special reason?"

I was thinking on my feet like always, so I decided I mine as well get some Edward time in too. "I wanted to ask Edward's permission for something…"

"Um, Jake, are you sure that's a good idea, I mean are you going to behave yourself?"

"Look Bells, I promised I would be better from now on, and I will."

"Okay…" I heard a muffled call for Edward to come over there, and then his sweet voice filled every crevice of my head.

"Hello, Jacob."

I took a deep calming breath and began, trying to will myself to keep my temper no matter what. "Hey, Eddie."

"Please don't call me that, Jakey." He said through gritted teeth.

"Sorry, Lord Edward."

He sighed and I knew if I could see him he'd be pinching the bridge of his nose or running his hands through his hair.

"Jacob… stop, please. You were right I really don't want to fight anymore."

"Okay, I'm sorry, Edward. How's it going?"

"Okay, I guess, except for the fact that I'm making small talk with an infuriating werewolf."

"Aww, don't be like that Edward, I just wanted to get on your good side."

"You know how to do that? Move to Australia and never come back."

"C'mon, Edward, please. I thought you said you were going to try to be nice?" I accused.

"Fine, fine. What did you want to ask me Jake?"

I was so surprised that he called me Jake again, that I couldn't make a complete thought. Finally I collected myself. "I was wondering if you would allow Bella to come to the pack's bon fire tonight." I said, completely professional.

He took a minute I think, trying to decide which side he'd be on. "She can go only on a couple of conditions."

"Okay!" I was thrilled I'd be able to hang out with my Bells, just like old times.

"You haven't heard the conditions yet." He sighed. "One, I'll drop her off and pick her up and the border line. Two, she has to call me to tell me when she'll be getting back. And three, well, my earlier threat still stands."

The hairs on my back stood up straight, but I put on a brave face.

"Great, it's a plan then."

"Yeah, sure, bye Jake."

"Wait, Edward?"

He sighed, completely done pretending he didn't mind talking to me. "What?" Exasperation lined his voice.

"Thank you."

He didn't say anything for a whole minute. "F–for what?"

"For letting Bella go tonight, for being understanding. For not hating me because all of this is happening." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, bracing for his reaction.

"Yeah, sure." He muttered dazed. I was a little out of it myself. "Goodbye."

"See you tonight."

After I hung up I remembered I never got to talk to Bella again. I thought about calling her back, but I knew she'd suspect something was wrong with my voice, so I decided against it. Plus, I was going to see her in a couple hours anyways. Besides, she wasn't the one I was just talking to who I really wanted to call back.

AN - Hey everyone! I know I said I'd update (again), but I failed you (again). Pleeeease don't be too mad. So anyways, this is kind of a filler chapter, but I think the next chapter should be pretty good. I already have an idea sketched out in my head. No one's really voting in my pole, so I'm going to close it and go with my gut instict.

I know I really don't deserve it, but I would love it if you reviewed. Even the bad is appreciated, but try to say what I could do differently, use specifics! Anyways, thank you anyone who's reading this story, and especially those who bothered to read the author notes (those are the only people who are going to see the thanks) and the people who reviewed.