Submit Date:
June 20th, 2008

Disclaimer:
I don't own Jacob Black, but Katelyin is my own character, (c) me
Jacob Black (c) Stephenie Meyer; Twilight series.

Um, this is the first part of Keeping Secrets. It's mainly romance, but very little action, since I totally suck at writing action stuff. I really hope you enjoy it. :

PART ONE--

Moving to Forks was a good idea. My father had decided out of the blue to move-- and I got to pick where. I was tired of living in Texas. Sure, it was a great place. We had two horses, and more than enough land for the both of them. The school system was great, our house was just enough for my mother, father, and myself. But I was tired of being in the hot sun all the time, I was tired of tornados, and I was tired with being in the same place. I'd only been to a few other states- Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Those were all for horse things. Camps, competitions, shows, things like that. I did some research, and it took me nearly three months just to come up with a place to live. I wanted something where I could trail ride a lot, where I could just sit and listen to nothing, and where the sun wouldn't scorch my skin all the time. Forks was just the place. Sure, it was really wet and cloudy, but I thought it was time for a drastic change. Texas was getting on my nerves.

It was the best idea I've ever had in my life. School wouldn't start for another two weeks, so I had enough time. Before we moved, I went school shopping according to the climate there. I bought a little bit of everything. Long sleeves, shorts, hoodies, sweaters, sun dresses -which I wore most often- and a few pairs of new shoes. And, of course, we never flew. We always drove. My family was afraid of planes, as was I, so flying was never even a part of the adventure. The drive was days long, but we made it-- not to mention the expenses. Food, gasoline, hotels- when we needed them desperately.

Then finally we arrived.

Now I could sit comfortably on the bed. I closed my eyes with a sigh, my back aching from carrying things upstairs. My bedroom was the only one on this floor. My parents had the master bedroom downstairs, and I had the whole second floor to myself. I was too tired to even get up to go say goodnight to the horses, but I would see them in the morning. Before I closed my eyes, I looked around my room. My computer wasn't hooked up, and it was sitting on the light brown desk close to the window. Inspirational means, I figured. Looking out my window, I could see the front and side yards- the left side yard held the two horses we owned. One was a sixteen-hand buckskin mare, and the other was a fourteen and-a-half hand palomino mare with a little strawberry blonde mixed into her mane and tail. She was prettiest, I had always thought, and she was youngest and most spirited. She was my play horse, but the buckskin was always my trail-rider. My walls were white and I was fine with that, beings that most of the things I owned were white. White was peaceful and it helped my temper, which was out of control as it is. I even had to take medication for it. I suppose I'm somewhat bipolar, but I don't care. I don't ever tell anyone, because nobody needs to know. My bedspread was a light blue, and there was a thin sheet of canopy hanging from the ceiling around my bed- white, of course. My silver radio was plugged into the wall sitting atop the white nightstand next to my bed that had two drawers full of crap. Mostly paper for me to write or doodle, or whatever I felt like doing. My television sat directly across from my bed, pressed against the wall with my silver video game system below it, not yet plugged in. My closet was right next to my bedroom door. It would probably take me a while to be able to remember that the left one was the door that lead out into the hallway, and not the closet.

I sighed, glad I was already in my pajamas. Without calling down to my parents, I flicked off the lights. The streetlights lining the street were enough light to go in my bedroom that I didn't have to leave my television on during tonight-- but just tonight. I was terrified of the dark. My eyes already drooping, i crawled under the comforter, pulling the blanket over my shoulders, and was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.

- - - - - - - - -

I always woke quickly. It was never groaning and falling back to sleep, my eyelids never fluttered. Once my eyes were open, that was it-- I was awake. I sighed, rubbing my head and mussing my hair to be already worse than it was. I rubbed my eyes, standing up on wobbly and asleep legs, shuffling over to my window to open it up. The air was cool, but the sun was faintly shining through the clouds. Today would be my first day to experience Forks.

I grabbed what i would wear today and opened the door. Of course, it had to be the closet I opened on accident. I tried the other door and was successful, walking onto the hallway with bare feet. I took steps down the hallway to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. The usual morning routine took place-- showering, drying my hair, brushing my hair and teeth, and finally dressing. I kept it simple today wearing black jean capris and a pastel pink shirt with black and white tennis shoes, which were waiting downstairs. I shuffled downstairs, my morning walk not my fastest, and almost gasped when my feet hit the tile of the kitchen. My mother stood in front of the toaster, buttering bread whereas my father was nowhere in sight.

"Morning, Katey," Mom hummed, in her usual chipper mood. She was always happy, always smiling, showing off her perfect teeth. If only I'd had them. I had to have braces in the fifth grade, but just got them taken off three years ago. I smiled, close-mouthed, and nodded. "Going out for a ride?"

I nodded. "In a little bit." I ran my fingers through my black hair. It was short and stringy, reaching barely the base of my neck. In some places, it reached only abuot my chin. It was random, and usually acted that way. I sighed, taking a seat at the table and resting my face in my hands, rubbing my eyes. I didn't usually wear makeup. I didn't see the point. I wasn't here to impress anybody, anyways. I was bored already of sitting in one place. I would go outside.

I walked out, surprised that the air was cooler than it was before. I hadn't even gotten off the porch before I went back upstairs and grabbed a sweater, pulling it over my head. I was going to put my hair up in a ponytail, but it was too cold. I smiled, hearing the soft nicker of both of the horses as I approached the paddock fence after making my way outside. My tennis shoes made a crunching sound when they walked across the gravel driveway and fell silent once they stepped on the dew-covered grass. This place was so green! I felt like things would only get better. I looked up at the bucksin, who I had named Tank even though she was female, and brushed her face with my hands. The palomino, Missus, got impatient and bit at Tank and I frowned. Jealous. I reached forward to rub her warm nose with my hand, smiling. I loved them both. I ducked down, stepping between the planks of the fence and then stood up, in the fenced area, walking to the tack shed and opening it. Both horses followed me. I pulled out a purple halter and clipped on a black lead rope, sliding it over Tank's face and swatting Missus away. She slumped away, now more interested in the sweet green grass. I made a lynch knot around a post that we had placed there for tying horses down, and threw the saddle blanket over Tank's back, adjusting it to the proper position. I heaved the saddle onto her back, buckling it and pulling it in the right places, and finally unhooked her halter and put it around her neck, sliding the bit into her mouth. She took it easily, she'd been doing this since she was three and she was now seventeen, and buckled the halter where need be. I took the halter off from around her neck and hung it on the fence, walking with the reins in my hand to lead Tank and I out.

It took a while to get to my destination. A quiet and comfortable ride down a few streets until I saw a trail I thought would be interesting. Of course, it was daring, and maybe even dangerous, to ride on a trail I'd not inspected beforehand, but I did it anyway. We entered the wall of trees, the trail thin but just wide enough for Tank to fit comfortably in. I surveyed the area without words, afraid that if I blink I would miss something beautiful. This area was perfect- the trail was smooth, the scenery was amazing, but something was off. No animals. I heard no rustle of rabbits or weasles, I could hear no singsonging birds. It was odd, but I thought nothing of it.

It was only a million sighs of contentment later that I had come to a clearing. I blinked. This area was perfect. It was a perfectly ovular clearing, with fallen trees and big boulders to sit on, even place enough that there was no way Tank could get away from me. I slid off, deciding to give my backside a rest, stretching and bringing the rens over Tank's head to lead her fully into the clearing. I thought for a moment, and slid Tank's reins back over her neck and decided to let her off to graze int he clearing, sitting on the ground, resting my back on a fallen and decaying tree. This area was pretty enough. But even though I had stepped away from Tank and let her off on her own, she held her head high, staring to the side. Her ears perked up and the whites of her eyes began to show, her nostrils flaring. I furrowed my brows. She usually got like this if she smelled something new. But what had they never come across? They'd seen rabbits, bears, deer, everything. What could be out here that wasn't everywhere else?

"Looking for Bigfoot?" I mumbled to Tank. I smiled, but in the pit of my stomach I felt nervous. Her feet were spread apart in a defensive stance and her muscles flexed, her breathing slowing. She was petrified of whatever it was. Well, they'd never come across llamas, but I doubted that any of those were out here. I stood up, making my way slowly over to her. I put a hand lightly on her neck and the muscle twitched beneath my hand. Still, she didn't move. I heard her rumble low in her throat, barely blinking as she looked off to her right, my left. I heard a crack, and Tank flinched back, jumping off the ground a bit. She turned, paying no mind to me and knocked me down with her big body, trotting right by me. I hit the ground on my butt, but thought nothing of it. I stood back up, watching Tank trot around in circles, throwing her head around and nickering nervously. "Hey, hey, girl, settle down." I reached out to Tank and she cautiously came towards me, allowing me to stroke her nose, right above her upper lip. My eyes furrowed, and I mumbled comforts to her. What could scare her so bad? Then another crack. Whatever she was afraid of, it was getting closer and louder. Now my heart started to beat faster. I bit my lip, hoisting myself back onto the saddle and patting Tank's neck, murmuring comforts trying to calm her down. Still, she wanted to leave. She pawed at the ground, eager to leave, and I finally I turned back onto the trail we had come. It would take at least twenty minutes to get back out of these woods. Fifteen, maybe, if we picked up the pace. She wanted to run, but I could only let her go at a slow trot- I was afraid we would hit or trip over something and that would be bad for most of us- mainly me. About three minutes since we'd been riding away, still at an uneasy trot, I heard it; It was a perfect howl, just like the ones I heard in the movies. It was close, and off to my left. My heart picked up it's already rapid pace. It was chasing us.

I let Tank go a little bit faster, and now we were at a medium lope, and I ducked my head close to her neck, just in case branches were in my way above me. The saddle horn hit my chest, and I was sure it would be bruised, but that was alright. I was terrified in my current situation. I wasn't paying attention to see what had happened, but Tank reared her front half up, giving a shrill whinny and I fell off, not expecting that action. Something howled again and sounded close. Whatever it was had darted right in front of Tank, but I had gotten no look at it. That was all I could think of as I fell off, my head hitting the ground. It wasn't soft, whatever my head hit and I heard a sharp crack and groaned, almost immediately falling into darkness.

I groaned through closed lips, closing my eyes until I thought they would rip. Had I just woken up? I couldn't remember. All I knew was that I was having the worst headache I'd ever had in my life. What happened? I sat up, the cool air on my arms and face a signal that I was still outside. My eyes seemed to shake as I tried to look around, my eyes watering because of the pain in the back of my head. I whined, wanting to start bawling. It hurt so bad. The clearing was big, wherever I was, and I could hear something tearing grass. I glanced to my left to look at someone's back, standing next to Tank as she munched cheerily on green grass. I grabbed my head as a new wave of pain washed over me, making the back of my eyeballs hurt. Whoever was standing with Tank took quick steps my way and kneeled down in front of me, his hands on his knees. I could tell it was a him by his voice. He said something, but I was too hurt to care what he said. I only whined again, still wanting to cry forever. I could feel hands on my shoulders. They were hot, like he'd been sitting in the sun for hours on end. It felt good on my cold shoulders.

"Hey, hey, look at me-" He said, whover it was. I shook my head, closing my eyes.

"I can't," I groaned, lowering my head more. "My eyes hurt, and so does my head." My voice cracked and I could feel hot tears mix into my eyelashes. I didn't want to cry, but I was hurting bad enough to where I almost didn't care. I still didn't look at the face of the stranger who was there with me. His hands were big, they fully covered my tiny, slim shoulders.

"I have to take you somewhere," His voice exclaimed. I shook my head, breathing heavily so I wouldn't vomit. "Why not?" He snapped.

"I can't leave Tank here." I couldn't. I couldn't let whatever it was that was chasing it kill her. I couldn't leave her here to be beast food. "She'd get eaten by the..." My voice trailed off and I groaned again. The pain was always there, throbbing, but it intensified as random waves washed through my head, making me just want to roll over and die. My hand trailed to the back of my head, and I touched the sorest spot on my head, feeling a scab, around it still being wet. I brought my shaking hand back to where I could see it, looking at the little bit of red-black liquid on my fingers. Blood.

"There's no way that I can just have you sit here," He said, grunting with displeasure.

"I won't go with you," I breathed, groaning my words. "unless you ride her back. I'll even sit on your lap, just don't leave her here." He sighed, and stood up, and I could hear his footsteps and four big heavy thumps rythmicly falling on the ground behind him. He lead Tank over and leaned back down. "You don't even have to do anything until..." my words were getting slower, and so was my speech. My eyes felt like they were being drawn shut by some invisible force. I was so tired. "we get out of this wood. Do you know how to ride?" My words were getting harder for myself to hear, and everything was getting blurrier by the second.
"I can figure out, I'm sure." Then, I fell asleep.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I could hear mumbling. I wanted to open my eyes, but I felt as if they were sewn shut. I sighed, still wanting my eyes to open, but my body refused to let them. I heard them talk, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I furrowed my brows, wiggling my body against the softness of whatever I'd been sleeping on. I heard a gasp, and finally a touch to my arm. My eyes finally opened and i blinked into the dull light of the living room I was in. I was sleeping on a couch, my head rested on a pillow, but it was wet. Some of it, anyway. I looked up into the face of my concerned mother, behind her stood my father, just as worried.

"Oh, baby, I'm so glad you're okay, your father and I had been worried sick all day," She breathed, rubbing my forehead. I sighed and it turned into a groan. I turned my head to look at everyone in the room. I focused on the two males who were sitting across the room, that had been talking to my parents. One of them was in a wheelchair. He had brown skin, and long gray hair that was tied into a braid. How far it went down his back, I couldn't tell. His face was covered with wrinkles, but his eyes were twinkling with concern- but all the while he looked ancient and wise. He was indian, obviously. Then I looked at the male who stood up. He stood straight, his hands in the pockets of his baggy jeans that were stained with grease, grass, and dirt. His shirt was loose, but still his muscles seemed to erupt from the black of it. His arms were thin, but still muscular, his shoulders broad and his jaw set. He was gorgeous. His dark brows were furrowed over dark brown eyes and his hair was about shoulder length, shaggy around his face. His lips were thin, and set in a concerned frown.

"Mom," I mumbled, attempting to sit up. I made it, but my head was spinning. "Take me to the doctor." I opened my mouth just the slightest bit, feeling vomit tease my throat and stomach. I groaned, leaning over the couch. Someone had placed a big bucket at the side of it, obviously knowing it would probably happen. I tucked my hair behind my ears, grinding my teeth together and breathing through my nose, I heard my mother say something, but it was drowned out by the noise of blood rushing through my ears. And then, it happened. I coughed after the nasty mix came out of my mouth, not ready for more, but I knew it would come eventually. I felt as disgusting as it tasted and I groaned. "Mom," I groaned again. "Please, I hurt so-" I didn't have time to finish before I threw up again.

"Okay, okay. Josef, we have to take her to the doctor." My mom stood up, turning her head to face dad. I didn't look up, even when big strong arms scooped me up. They weren't my fathers, that's for sure. They were hot-- did this boy have a fever. I glanced up through half lidded eyes at the one who held me, right into the soft face of the smiling indian boy.

"Hi," He greeted cheerily. I wished I could talk. I wished my breath didn't smell like vomit. I wish I felt better. My mouth tipped up crookedly, trying to smile as best as I could in my current condition. He only chuckled, flashing a row of perfectly white teeth, which made me feel even worse about my appearance. Every second longer I looked at his face, the uglier I felt. I felt like I was wrapped in a heater blanket, even when I was carried outside into the cool air. I glanced around slowly, sure and careful not to turn too fast that I make myself vomit again. Our white truck was parked next to a red VW Rabbit. To the truck was hooked up our white horse trailer.

"Thanks for bringing her." I looked down when I spoke to him, so he couldn't see my ugly face. I knew he was smiling again by the way he spoke.

"No problem, I didn't stay on her after we left the woods." The boy opened the back door to the truck, gingerly laying me down in the back seat. I took a last look at his smiling face. "I'll come to say hi tomorrow, when you're in better condition to speak. Take it easy." And with that, the door was closed.

- - - - - - - - - -

I had to have seven stitches in the back of my head, and luckily, they didn't have to buzz any of my hair off to make it happen. But I did have to keep my hair out of the way. I sectioned the top half and pulled it back into a barett, letting the rest fall in it's normal way. It was the day after the accident, Tank was back where she belonged, and so was I.

"Katelyin!" I heard my mother's shrill voice call, right in the middle of my teeth-brushing. I spit out the toothpaste I had in my mouth, but continued brushing as I rushed downstairs, only to see the indian boy at the door. Immediately, my face flushed. He was even more good-looking in the daytime. His skin was a russet color, like copper. He was smiling, flashing his white teeth, and it made his eyes sparkle the dark brown that they were. He was leaned against the open doorframe, his hands in the pockets of his grease-stained pants, wearing a white shirt today. Even though it was somewhat loose, it still confimed his muscles. They weren't bulging and disgusting, but they were perfect for him- the way he looked, how tall he was. Man, was that boy tall.

"Hi," I mumbled, completely awestruck at his gorgeous appearance. It sounded funny with a toothbrush in my mouth. His smile broadened and he chuckled.
"Hey, glad you're alright." He pushed himself off of the doorframe but kept his hands in his pockets, taking two steps forward. My stitches itched, my face burned with embarassment at my current state of ugliness, and the toothpaste was burning my tongue. Yum, germ-fighting action. Without words, I turned and rushed up the stairs, down the hall, and back into the bathroom. I couldn't change right this minute, because it would just be weird. So, i rinsed my mouth with mouthwash before dousing my hot face with cool water and drying it, checking my appearance. I was in a pair of green plaid boys boxers, and a dark blue spagetti strap tanktop, bare feet, my skinny legs showing. Sure, I was comfortable with my weight- I wasn't disgustingly skinny, but I wasn't close to fat by any means. I just had no figure. I was displeased with my board-like body, and went downstairs, trying to seem as casual as possible. But it was hard to st ay casual around such an inhumanly gorgeous being as the indian boy. Oh, Lord, I didn't even know his name. With my head down, watching my bare feet, I started back down the hall, my steps bigger and faster than normal. Then my eyes fell on a pair of dirty work boots and I looked up, giving a little yelp. I stepped back, feeling too close to the indian boy. My face flushed, and I could feel heat rise to my ears.

"In a hurry?" He asked, flashing a crooked grin. I didn't say anything, only stared up dumbly at his face. "I'm Jacob Black, by the way." He didn't stick out a hand for me to shake, so I locked my hands together behind my back. I tried to smile, but it was an ugly one, I was sure of it. I felt like it was off- like I looked like the Joker from Batman. Gross.

"Um, Katelyin." I nodded, my smile shrinking. "But please, call me Katey." Again, I smiled. He chuckled. It sounded like gruff wind chimes, but his voice was all the same soothing and smoothe. Then a thought crossed my mind. With my hands still behind my back, I asked, "How did you find me? You know, in the woods..." My head tilted to the side, and my brows furrowed just the tiniest bit. His smile shrunk.

"I heard howls, and when I was walking towards them, I heard your horse, uh..." His voice trailed off, trying to remember the name.

"Tank," I added, waiting for him to go on.

"Yeah, Tank. I was walking and I heard Tank and you yelled, and I found you, and took you to that clearing, where I could set you down in a bigger place." He shrugged before continuing. "You were knocked out for about fourty-five minutes after I took you there, and then I took you to my place. You'd been gone long enough to give your parents a spook- all day, apparently. You were asleep for a good four hours at my house. The deputy came knocking on our door, saying that you were lost and stuff. I said we had you here, that I found you in the forest, and your parents came and loaded up your horse, and waited for about three hours before you woke up. The end." He smiled again, making my blush even more intense. I felt like a fool. My face was so obviously red.

"Uh, well. Thanks." I cracked a smile, hoping I didn't look as bad as I thought I would. Good Lord, Jacob was so handsome.

"Come on, your mom's got lunch ready for you," He turned around. "and I." I could feel him smiling, and I smiled to, biting my lower lip.

Jacob Black stayed for a few hours- I was glad for that. But I wasn't glad that the whole time I was a babbling idiot. Whenever he asked me a question, I studdered, I blushed, I looked down and fidgeted. I was completely brain-dead. And finally, when he decided to leave for home, he asked if I would walk with him to his car. Of course I would, there was no way I couldn't follow behind him, drooling, wanting to see more of him.

Turning, after reaching the red VW, he flashed that brilliantly bright smile that made me want to fall to the floor, leaning against the hood of the car.
"Wanna go do something tomorrow? If you're free, that is." His smile shrank a little, now now showing his teeth. He had dimples in his cheeks. I smiled, feeling like my face would break. I was holding back my smile, of course, because I was embarassed that my real smile was stupid. I'd never really seen myself smile... I nodded my head, biting my lower lip.

"Yeah. Uh, stop by around noon, and we'll decide what we should do ahead of time." My heart started beating faster and faster with ever second he stood there. He stood back up on his feet, pushing himself off the hood of the Rabbit.

"Cool. I'll see you tomorrow then." He extended a big hand forward, and it was only then that I realized I had to crane my neck just to look up at his face. He had to be close to six-foot. His fingers gingerly brushed my hair, sweeping it across my cheek. His eyes sparkled and his smile grew. "Bye, Katey." He climbed into the car, leaving me breathless. My face felt like it had melted at his touch, and my heart was a puddle at my feet. My lips had parted, and even they were warm with a blush.

I could only wonder why someone as amazing as Jacob Black could want to look at me, Katelyin Deakon. But I was sure glad for it.