The next day, Jacob was up to his elbows in repairs on three more vehicles by the time Quil and Embry showed up. He could hear them coming from a mile away. When they saw him with his head buried under the hood of a Lincoln Continental, they started up with the whoops and hollers.

Suddenly Jacob understood where the term "wolf whistle" had come from. "There he is...my hero," Quil jeered as he sidled up to Jacob.

"Dude, you are like a legend or something," Embry began. "How did you get a kiss from the ice queen?"

"Leah?"

Quil replied, "Who else?" then paused and added, "Wait! Did you kiss Renesmee too?"

Embry slapped Jacob on the back and hollered, "Man, what's your secret?"

Jacob groaned. "Enough! I didn't kiss Nessie and that kiss with Leah was..."

"Hot!" Quil and Jacob replied in unison.

Jacob cringed. "You saw that?"

"Everybody saw that...even Sam," Embry replied, giving Jacob a knowing look. "But I guess it's cool or else he would've already kicked your ass by now."

"Thanks," Jacob replied sarcastically. "Actually what I was going to say was, that kiss was fake."

Quil furrowed his brow and shook his head. "I...don't think so. She was into it!"

Jacob was starting to blush. "I just meant that she knew that Renesmee was watching us," he paused to see if they were following what he was meaning. "She did it for me...to make Nessie jealous. It wasn't real."

"So...she's trying to help you now?" Embry quizzed, still confused.

"She told Seth that she admitted to Renesmee that she wants you. AND she called her stupid for not being with you," Quil informed him.

"She did not," Jacob argued.

"Face it, man. Leah has it bad for you. Can't believe you never noticed it before..." Embry replied, smiling.

Jacob sighed and shrugged. "I can't worry about that right now. I'm more concerned about how Ness feels about me. I laid it all out for her, my feelings, our connection, and now I'm gonna leave it all up to her."

"What about her gift? Still gonna finish it?" Quil reminded him.

Jacob nodded and smiled. "Of course. It's hers regardless of what happens. But I still need that new exhaust manifold..." he added wistfully.

His friends smiled, both about to burst with excitement. "We got a surprise for you," Embry announced.

Jacob's eyes opened widely and his mouth gaped open. "What did you do?"

They dragged him to the garage door to reveal the coveted part in almost perfect condition. "Jared found it at the junkyard. Just came in this morning."

Jacob beamed, "You guys are the best!"

They both nodded proudly and Quil announced, "We know."
..................
Renesmee was anxiously watching the front window in anticipation of his arrival. She was surprised that he had contacted her, saying that he wanted to go out. Now she was dressed and ready but he still wasn't there.

She checked her watch and her hair again before she heard someone pull up. He's here...finally.

Renesmee didn't even wait for him to knock before opening the door with a huge smile. "Hi," she said shyly, trying to hide how anxious she really was.

Seth grinned nervously as he stepped inside. He wasn't sure if he should hug her or not, so they both stood there awkwardly before she reached for him.

That's not a Jacob hug.

Renesmee pulled back slowly wondering where that thought came from. "Should we...go?"

Seth nodded opened the door for her. As she reached for her jacket on the hook beside the doorway, that nagging voice said, Jacob would have reminded you to take your coat.

By the time they reached his car and he didn't open the door for her, the voice was nagging her again. She tried to ignore it but her thoughts were betraying her. How could she have any fun with Seth when that inner voice wouldn't let her forget her Jacob?
.....................
Jacob, Quil, and Embry had spent the rest of the day working on the Mustang. The exhaust system was finished, but there was still a knock in the engine. The guys were starved after working through lunch and Jacob was so grateful for all their help that he offered to buy dinner at the diner. They decided to finish the repairs tomorrow, but for now, it was time to eat.

Embry was trying to order everything on the menu. They sat at the counter, laughing and joking happily as the young waitress watched. "So, you want a BLT, the club sandwich, AND chili cheese fries?" she asked, jotting the order down in her pad.

Then she turned her attention to Jacob, unable to stop smiling as she watched him pour over the menu. Quil and Embry glanced at each other with knowing looks. They were used to this. It was always the same, the girls loved Jacob and the fact that he didn't pay any attention to them, didn't seem to matter.

Jacob pressed his lips together and finally said, "I'll take a double cheeseburger with bacon, extra pickles and no fries," he paused to glance up at her, the corner of his mouth turning up into a half smile. He handed her his menu and nodded, "Thanks, sweetheart."

The waitress looked as if she could faint. "I'll put that order right in for you."

Quil groaned when she was out of ear shot. "You just had to call her sweetheart?"

"What?"

"At least we'll get good service..." Embry added as Jacob shrugged, still not sure what he had done wrong.

"No wonder Nessie can't stand you, Jake. All you do is flirt!"

Jacob scowled as he sipped his soda. "That's not flirting...I'm just being nice," he argued.

"Dude, come on. That girl has a crush on you!" Embry howled.

Jacob rolled his eyes and sighed. They were sitting at the counter, their backs to the rest of the diner. Jacob spun around and scanned the restaurant. There wasn't one single girl in the room prettier than his Ness.

He was about to turn back to continue the conversation with his friends when someone caught his eye. He blinked quickly because he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. A little bell tinkled as the diner door swung open and she stepped inside.

His stomach flip flopped when he saw her. She looked different, somehow older. Jacob frowned a little when he noticed she had straightened her hair. Her shoulders were bare, her blouse pale pink and nearly sheer. A little strip of skin above her navel was showing and her jeans fit her perfectly.

"Nessie," he breathed when she approached him, his voice
sounding like he had just got done running.

"Jake," she replied, looking nervous. "This is a surprise."

Jacob opened his mouth to reply when he noticed Seth joining her. "Hey, Jacob," Seth said tersely.

"Weird coincidence, huh?" Renesmee commented awkwardly.

Jacob glanced at both of them, finally realizing they were on a date. "Oh! You and Ness are..." he couldn't even say the words.

"On a date," Seth announced proudly.

"Yeah, I see," Jacob answered absently. Smiling at Nessie he said, "You look really nice tonight," he paused and added, "You both do. Have a good time."

The hostess arrived and led them to a booth not far from the counter. Renesmee looked sad as Seth touched her shoulder and guided her away. Jacob was confused by the look on her face. Wasn't this what she had been wanting?

Jacob sighed as he spun back around and found his dinner waiting on the counter for him. "Now I know you said no fries, but it comes with the meal. I hope that's okay," the young waitress gushed.

Jacob nodded, "Yeah it's no problem."

"You let me know if there's anything else I can get you..."

Jacob smiled absently. Suddenly no longer starving and more concerned about how Nessie was doing. He poked around at his food and then finally took a bite of his burger. Quil and Embry gossiped about Seth bringing Renesmee here on a date. "He didn't know we would be here," Jacob commented gently, defending his old friend.

Jacob glanced over his shoulder to where Renesmee sat and he grimaced. That pain in his gut was back. He excused himself to go the restroom, knowing he would have to pass right by her to get there.

He stood up slowly, smoothing out his jeans with the palms of his hands. He was fresh from working on cars, gray t-shirt smudged with grease and his jeans were the same. As he strode by her, he tried not to look but that was like not breathing for him.

She looked nervous and uncomfortable with Seth. No sign of that huge smile she always had when she was with Jacob. A twinge of jealousy shot through his gut when Seth reached for her hand. Renesmee glanced up at Jacob as he passed by their table.

Jacob pushed the restroom door open and let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding. He leaned forward and gripped the edge of the counter tightly and tried to steady himself.

I can do this. I can do this.

Jacob splashed some water on his face and ran some through his hair as well. His heart was pounding and his hands were shaking. He shook his hands out and wrung them together. He was a mess. He couldn't lose control now. He had to keep it together.

Jacob sucked in a deep breath and stared at his reflection for a moment. I can do this.

He told himself not to stop at their table. Just keep walking. But he couldn't help himself. He headed toward his spot at the counter then stopped suddenly, his steel gaze trained on Seth. Seth looked up at him, offered his outstretched hand, and asked, "No hard feelings?"

He sucked in a deep breath and took his hand, nodding because he had a lump in his throat that wouldn't allow him to form any words. He probably squeezed Seth's hand too hard and he hoped that Renesmee hadn't noticed.

Then he gave Renesmee a sideways glance, trying to gauge her reaction. She seemed to be suppressing a smile and was failing. Compulsively he reached for her, sweeping a stray lock of her now straight hair over her shoulder, dragging the back of his fingers across her bare skin. He captured the lock of hair between his fingers and rubbed it softly, his face conveyed a look of sadness.

Without saying a word, she seemed to know that he didn't approve of her new hairstyle. "I just wanted to try something new," she whispered softly, never breaking eye contact.

Jacob glanced at Seth and then back to her before saying, "I can see that."

His voice sounded incredibly sad and Renesmee ached to fix him, hold him, and stop the hurting. But she sat there frozen as he flashed her a killer smile and turned to walk away. She watched as he approached the waitress, touching her elbow gently as she walked away. And in that moment, she hated her.

"Can I get my check, Miss?"

The bubbly waitress beamed as she pulled out her pad, scribbled on it, then tore it off and handed it to him. He barely glanced at it, pulled two bills from his pocket and handed them to her. Jacob grabbed his cheeseburger off his plate and told Quil and Embry, "I have to get out of here."

They both nodded, glancing at Seth, they knew why. "Let's go."

Jacob paused when the waitress approached him again. "You forgot your change," she reminded him.

Jacob forced a smile. "It's yours. Great service, by the way."

She smiled so widely it looked as if she could burst. "Thanks...and I put my phone number on your bill," she added coyly.

Jacob looked down at the ticket still in his hand and grinned bashfully. "What was your name?"

"Ava, I'm Ava," she gushed.

Jacob nodded slowly, shoving the paper in his pocket and then reaching for her hand. "Nice to meet you, Ava."

Quil and Embry glanced at each other and Quil raised his eyebrows. He wondered if this was all for Renesmee's benefit when he noticed her watching from her table.

Jacob continued shaking Ava's hand, flashing her a bright smile. He broke contact, patted the pocket with her number, and said, "I'll call you..."

Quil and Embry shoved Jacob out the door, "Let's go, loverboy!" Embry jeered as Jacob glanced over at Renesmee one last time and saw her jaw clenched and eyes smoldering with hate. And just for a second, he didn't feel so bad.