Ok, so when I was writing this I was all like, "Alright, let's go, I'm ready like Spongebob, let's do this!" Then, I stared at the screen for about half an hour, wondering how in the world I was going to start this. It's nerve-wracking putting your story out there into the world! I've been thinking about how I was going to do this story for a while and then I finally decided that I should just go for it. For a long time, I've been afraid of flames and mean words destroying my confidence in my story. And I've decided that even if anyone else doesn't like my fic, that's ok. Because I like to write, express my ideas and that makes me happy. So, why should I give up something that I enjoy doing just because someone else doesn't?
I know, I know, super long author's note! But I do want to clarify some things. This story is a Jake/OC story. I've been reading a lot of these stories recently, and I've loved them. It's fun to read about original characters that others have created. So that you know, I don't have a super detailed layout of how this story is going to go. I'm thinking of just writing as it comes to me. I know it's going to stab me in the butt in the future.
So, I've been reading stories where Jake falls in love with an original character. I've read none about him with Renesmee and only two or three about him and Bella. I do not hate on any pairing you prefer. But, then I got to thinking, what if Jacob imprints on a woman of color? Like a Hispanic woman? More specifically, a woman of Mexican descent? I know a lot of you are going to be like, "well, I'm out!" But for those you who are a little reluctant to read this, please do. You're helping me a lot by reading and then giving me constructive criticism, which helps me improve my writing. And for those of you who don't mind reading these type stories, thank you for having an open mind.
Thank you for taking the time to read this super long author's note!
On with the story: Intertwined. (I know kinda cheesy, but I liked it!)
Driving in the rain is difficult. Especially with tears pouring down your face. Angrily, Maya swiped at her cheeks.
"Get a hold of yourself," she muttered. She blindly tore at the button on her door and let the window fall open. Fat drops of rain pelted her hot cheeks and face. Once again she clutched the steering wheel, her hands dry and red from the cold.
Maya shook herself out of her despair and realized that it was freezing. She scolded herself and pulled up her window. Getting sick won't help you make a good impression. She wiped her face off with her sleeve.
Up ahead, she saw a street sign.
Welcome To Forks, Washington!
She was almost there. A soft smile arose on her face, and a warm feeling grew in her chest. Her cheeks felt tight from the tears, but she was too content to care.
Be brave and be strong, her mother always told her. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly through her nose. Pressing harder on the accelerator and hope filling her heart, she crossed the line that separated her and her future.
Reluctantly, she shut off the ignition and let her head drop to the headrest behind her.
'What are you doing here? You can't do this is by yourself.'
She doubted herself again. What would her parents say? They would say that she was a strong, grown woman and her mother would scold her for thinking such thoughts. She smiled sadly. Her mother was strong, not her. She couldn't stop herself from crying almost every two hours.
She felt her eyes stinging, and her throat felt tight. Angry with herself, she smacked her thighs and jumped out the car. No more crying. At least until she was behind closed doors.
Looking at the dark windows and desolate atmosphere of her new house made her want to hop back into her car and drive right back home.
La Push. A Native American reservation.
Immediately, she felt like she was intruding. She didn't belong here. Although she was from Mexico and her family and had indigenous blood, this wasn't her land.
"You aren't staying here forever," she reminded herself. She was staying to teach at the elementary school for a year. School started in two weeks, and she had so much to do.
But Maya couldn't stop the grin that erupted on her face at the thought. She loved to teach, and she adored children. She had a job to do, so this was home for a year.
The house was a light yellow color. It did look old, ancient even. But how could she complain? She's lived in old houses before. The roof was a dull gray and may have been missing a few shingles, but it seemed alright. Plus, it was cheap since she was renting it from a local woman who lived on the reservation.
"I have to call her soon," Maya murmured.
She gathered her luggage out from her trunk and closed it with a thud. Clad with a large suitcase and a box full of dreams and other treasures, she walked up from the driveway and to the white front door. Pulling out an envelope from her purse, had the keys that mailed to her a week prior, she unlocked the door. Turning on the lights, the living room was the first room she entered into. Decorated with just a little table, a couch, and an old TV, it was plain. She grinned, she loved it already. Kicking the door closed and setting her things on the floor, she left to examine the rest of the house.
Next to the living room was the kitchen that already had a stove with an oven, a microwave a table with three chairs, and a coffee machine. Maya smiled, that was all she needed. Down the hall, there were two bedrooms and a bathroom. She chose the bigger room for herself and left the other room for guests. Like you'll have any guests, she thought sorely. Both rooms were equipped with a bed and a dresser.
Walking back to the living room, she pulled out her phone to call her landlady, after three rings, an old woman answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Um, hi. This is Maya Peralta, and I'm renting your little yellow house. I called about it a week ago. Well, I'm calling because I'm in the house and I just got here to La Push, and well, yeah...", she stuttered. At 22 years old, she still couldn't speak effectively to people.
"Oh my goodness! Why didn't you call earlier? I'm heading over there right now with some food, sweetie!" Maya started to protest, saying it wasn't necessary, but the woman insisted.
"Oh, honey it's no trouble at all! I'm headed over there right now; you must be famished."
Right at that moment, her stomach growled. Maya felt her cheeks redden. She hadn't realized how hungry she was.
"Um, okay. If you're sure."
"Of course I am! I'll see in a few, hun."
Well, at least her landlady was nice.
"Thanks again for the food! It was delicious!", Maya praised.
"Oh, it was no problem, sweetie! I'll see you tomorrow so I can show you around town!", Melissa, her landlady, promised. She reminded Maya of her mother, always willing to help and had a kind smile. Melissa's husband passed away a few years back, and Maya guessed Melissa was lonely, so she was ready to give her time. She was a gray-haired, Native American woman, a little taller than Maya herself. She had smile lines and kind, wise eyes. Melissa rambled on about how Maya was going to love La Push, how happy everyone is because there was a new teacher in the elementary school, and how lovely the beaches were, all throughout dinner.
Melissa had brought over meatloaf and rice, both of which were lovely. Melissa's chatter brightened Maya's living space. The sound of their laughter and the clinking of utensils, made Maya's house feel more like a home.
Melissa climbed into her faded green truck and drove away from Maya's house, waving and smiling. Maya waved back, feeling happy that she at least had one person that she could talk to.
She lingered outside, enjoying the cool breeze, refreshing her skin. The silence gave the night a calm atmosphere. Maya took a deep breath and let it out slowly, finally feeling at peace with her situation. Her eyes drifted up to the sky.
Stars filled every crevice of the heavens. She smiled. She knew that her family in Mexico were under the same sky, looking at the same stars, maybe thinking of her too. Her eyes were beginning to water, just thinking about her family so far away. But, Maya knew they are proud of her, she was so close to her goal.
Then she heard a howl so deafening, it reverberated through the air and sent shudders down her spine and snapped her back to the present. She froze.
Seconds later, she heard a chorus of howls. Her breath came out in gasps. There were wolves here?
Swiftly, she ran back inside and locked the door. Gasping, she leaned against the door to catch her breath. The short burst of adrenaline made her muscles twitch. She needed to start working out.
What was that? Were there wolves that close to town?
She shook her head to clear her thoughts and peered out the window. Everything seemed to be in order. The breeze stirred the trees lazily in the dark. The gentle moonlight gave a glow to the treetops. From what she could see, nothing was out of the ordinary.
Until her eyes caught a glimpse of russet brown, just across the street from her house, it was barely noticeable in the darkness. Her eyes widened. Trotting swiftly, barely behind the tree line of the woods, the dim lighting of the street light making it more visible. A wolf that was a size far more massive than any wolf should be. Its form moved gracefully through the shadows and Maya couldn't tear her eyes away from it. She was utterly transfixed, captivated, mesmerized, with this being.
Suddenly, as if the wolf knew it was being watched, hastily turn its enormous head in her direction. And when the wolves onyx eyes met hers, she felt the air in her lungs escape her. The wolf also seemed disturbed, almost uncomfortable, the way it pawed the ground, all while their gazes remained locked. Its ears stood straight and angled in the direction of the house.
Maya's world felt as if it had shifted, been upturned, and all that was left was the wolf that stood a few yards away. She felt her pulse in her head, in her ears so strongly, she was beginning to feel nauseous. What was happening?
Unexpectedly, there was another howl that pierced the air. The wolf's stare was forcibly stolen from hers as if the wolf didn't want to leave her gaze, and turned towards the sound.
Maya felt her breath return to her with the force of a thundering stampede. Clutching desperately at the window pane, she painfully filled her lungs with air. Her knees felt like they could give out from under her at any moment.
The wolf sharply turned and headed in the direction of the sound but not without rearing its enormous head over its shoulder, giving her one last haunting look, before it disappeared into the dark seclusion of the woods.
Maya desperately tried to wrap her head around what had just happened.
First, there are large wolves the size of horses roaming the forest! Next, they seem much too intelligent for any wolf. Lastly, they make humans succumb to their gaze!
She pushed herself off the floor; she hadn't realized she had sat down. Her legs felt heavy as she walked to her luggage. She needed a shower to clear her mind.
After grabbing herself a shirt and some sleeping shorts, she headed down the hall and into the bathroom. The hot water relaxed her tense muscles, and the familiar smell of her shampoo calmed her nerves down considerably. She tried to steer her thoughts away from the wolf, fearing the intense feelings might return.
Robotically, she finished her shower, dried off and dressed. Leaving her hair loose, she stepped out of the bathroom and headed to her room. One step at a time she said to herself. Like mama said, be strong.
With that, she entered her room and dropped into her worn comforter and sheets she set on the bed earlier in the day. Too exhausted to even think about not thinking, the last things on her mind was her tour with Melissa the next day and finally the haunting eyes of the wolf that encaptured her mind. And then, her eyes drooped closed.
Hope you liked that first chapter. Not gonna lie, it took me all day to write. I kept deleting and rewriting, trying to make everything at least make sense. I haven't read the Twilight Saga in years, so I have to reacquaint myself with the characters again. Please excuse any grammar mistakes for this is my first fanfic ever. Please leave a review and help me become a better writer, it will encourage me to upload. Constructive criticism please! See you in the next chapter!
**** I re-uploaded this chapter because the page breaks didn't appear and that kinda makes the flow of the story wonky. And it doesn't show that time has passed. Sorry to all of you who were hoping for a new chapter. I'm working on the next chapter as we speak. It should be up before the end of this week!