He didn’t like her. He couldn’t. He just cared, that’s what Jacob told himself when her name came up in his head more than it should’ve. Jacob wasn’t a cheater. He was loyal, steady. If you had a problem with it, then maybe you didn’t trust him.

Yeah. That sounded bad.

You and Jacob have been dating for almost a year now. It started when he accidentally knocked your drink over in class and helped you clean up. Somehow, that turned into a friendship, and then into something more. He’d already introduced you to his dad and the guys from La Push. It felt solid, easy, real.

Once, he’d even joked that he might’ve imprinted on you. Sam didn’t find it funny and smacked him upside the head. Jacob hadn’t mentioned it again. He didn’t get what the big deal was anyway, those were just stories, old legends, nothing more.

Bella Swan. The name was vaguely familiar. When Jacob finally remembered who she was, he didn’t care much, an old friend from when they made mud pies as kids. That was it.

The first time he saw her again, she was standing next to his dad’s car. Pretty, in a quiet way. The second time was at the beach. She’d nearly tripped over a rock, and he caught her before she fell. He told her some of the Quileute legends, the same ones he hadn’t even told you until months into your relationship. He didn’t know why.

After that, she was in his head, when he was working in the yard, lying next to you, even when he was half-asleep. He didn’t do anything about it. Not until prom, when he saw her with Edward Cullen. His dad told him to warn her away, so he did. And it stung when she brushed him off.

Today, you and Jacob were in town, picking up parts for the Rabbit. You didn’t know why he suddenly veered toward Forks High until you saw her, Bella, standing with Edward. Jacob walked right up to her, grinning, teasing her, laughing like it was just the two of them. You stood there, awkward under Edward’s blank stare.

When you finally walked away, Jacob still had that grin plastered on his face. He glanced at you, then huffed, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"