New Moon: Bella and Jacob

Chapter 3

     Jake stood in the middle of the clearing, next to a picnic blanket covered in food and lit candles. The candles were all small and scattered throughout the clearing. As the sun was setting, the candle light threw ambiance through the trees. On plates there was steak, Mac & Cheese, and strawberries - all of my favorite foods.
     "Bella? Bella please say something. I'm sorry. What happened? Please tell me honey," Jake was now right in front of me, whipping the tears off my face. Worry filled his soft brown eyes, and it only made me cry more. "Did I do something wrong?"
     I laughed at that. "No, stupid. This is perfect. How did you... What?"
     He led me over to the blanket and we sat. He held both of my hands in his.
      "Well, I stayed up all night finishing the bikes like I said. Then this morning I cooked all the food, and brought it up here. I set up all the candles. I lit all the candles right before you pulled up, ya know, causal." He brushed it off, as though this wasn't the most caring thing anyone has ever done for me.
      "But why?" I was still in complete shock, picking at the Mac & Cheese in front of me.
      "Well... It was supposed to be nice out today. We don't get a lot of nice days here, as you know, and complain about. Constantly, might I add," Jake was grinning, making me blush. "And I like to see you smile. I wanted to do something for you. You deserve it."
     The tears were back. We started eating. As the sun went down, the stars came out. So did the chill.
      "Are you cold?" Jake said, already scooting over to me. We laid back on the blanket. We'd eaten all the food, and Jake had already cleared the plates.
     I snugged up onto his chest. He'd taken off his shirt to drape it over my legs as a cover. I placed my hands on his abs, not feeling self conscious at all. He was keeping me warm. He was keeping me safe. It was my Jake, and I knew he would never cross a line I didn't want him to cross.
     But as we stared at the stars together, candle light flickering over his chiseled chest, I couldn't help but feel my face flooded with warmth. What if I did want him to cross that line? I'm so scared of falling in love again, after him. I know I could never make the first move. But lying in Jake's chest felt so right. I looked up at him through my lashes.
      I felt like the little girl from two years ago, walking along first beach and poorly flirting with Jake.
      "Hey, Jake?" He murmured to let me know he was listening. "Do you remember when I saw you on First Beach, right after I moved back to Forks?"
      "Of course I do Bells. I think about that nearly every day."
     I sat up that, looking into his deep brown eyes. My eyebrows were furrowed together. Of course, I think about that day. It was the day I meant my Sun, whether I knew then how much he would save me or not. I would not be here without Jake, and that was the day we reconnected.
     "Bells, you are so dense. Can't you see? I'm in love with you. I have been since we were stuck making mud pies while our dads went fishing. I loved you even when you were with him. And I will love you even if you reject me. I don't want to push you. I will be your best friend. But you asked me why earlier. I did all this to see you smile. Because I love you, Bella."