if there were no werewolves and no vampires bella and jacob would have been perfect for each other and you can quote me on that
bella moves to forks her junior year of high school. charlie is beyond thrilled and calls billy as soon as he finds out.
billy tells jake that his childhood best friend is coming back to town. jake is happy, but honestly hasn't seen bella in years and doesn't think all that much of it.
when bella and jake see each other again for the first time billy and jake are bringing her the truck. bella is psyched, but its mostly about the truck. jake seems cool, but he goes to school on the rez so shes not sure she'll even get to see him that much.
bella makes some friends at school and theyre very welcoming. she agrees to go on a beach trip with them the next weekend.
at the beach in la push bella runs into jacob again. they get to talking and eventually find themselves wandering the beach by themselves for most of the afternoon.
jake takes her over to the tide pools and he has to hold her hand the entire time because she keeps tripping on the uneven rocks.
its windy and cold and damp on the beach, but jake's hands are so warm and bella can feel it radiating all over her.
they hold hands the whole way back. bella is steady enough on her feet to walk over the flat sand, but neither of them want to let go.
bella spends most weekends in la push after that. charlie and billy are so excited and want to be supportive, but they try to act like theyre not.
bella still doesn't like the cold wet weather in forks, but she doesnt notice when she's with jake. hes not just physically warm, but his personality is so bright and happy that she cant help but feel warm and comforted just being around him.
jess keeps bothering her about whether hes her boyfriend or not, but they never really discuss whether theyre dating. their bond is so soft and easy that even unspoken, its the strongest thing either of them has ever felt.
bella goes to visit her mom one weekend and is surprised to find that shes buying a house in jacksonville and wants bella to move back in with her. bella says no. she likes living with charlie, but its mostly the thought of leaving jake that she cant imagine.
jake takes bella on a hike when she gets back. he practically has to carry her half the way because she cant walk without tripping over something. their laughter bounces off the trees.
jake brings her to a cliff overlooking the ocean. they lay in the grass and tease each other and bella braids jake's hair and jake tells her about how quil and embry nearly got him grounded while she was gone.
bella tells him she loves him.
jake kisses her. her hands are still tangled in his hair but they fit together just like she knew they would.
they go to prom together the next weekend. bella picks him up in the truck and drives to the high school.
jake promises that his rabbit will be done soon and he can drive them the next year.
bella cant dance, but neither can jake. they fumble and mess around and end up spinning in small circles whispering promises to each other under the sparkling lights.
when bella drops jake off that night she leaves the car idling in the drive for a minute. she doesnt want to let go of his hand, or this perfect night.
they can see billy and charlie looking at them through the front window, trying to pretend like theyre watching the tv
they kiss goodnight and he promises her he wont let go. they'll get old and gray and things will change like they always do, but they both know this is a love that will last. maybe not forever, but a lifetime of love like this is plenty.
