Chapter 1: 2:00 AM, La Push/Forkes border: Jacob Black patrolled the La Push/Forkes border. He was anxious to see Bella again, but he didn't want to risk breaking the treaty. He patrolled for another hour, but then decided to call it a night and head back home. Seth's thoughts entered his mind on the way, so he decided to drop in. He phased just outside Seth's house and put on some jeans. He wandered in, calling Seth's name in his mind, as to not wake the others. Seth emerged with his hair in a very bedraggled fashion, and with his eyes red from crying. Jacob went to embrace him, and Seth simply wept into his shoulder.
Jacob led Seth outside, and sat him down on a log. It was damp, but with their combined running temperatures, the water quickly evaporated. Seth sat there crying and leaning on Jacob for another two hours, and Jacob patiently sat there waiting for him to recover. Eventually, Seth murmured 'I'm so sorry Jacob; I shouldn't be doing this to you.' Jacob murmured back 'It's ok Seth; anytime you need to talk you can talk to me ok?' Seth's sobbing ceased for a minute, and then he said "I just miss Dad so much. I thought I'd gotten over it, but always on Friday nights Dad would make his fish fry and we would eat it over a movie. But last night Mum noticed it was Friday and said, 'Well Seth, what would you like for dinner tonight?' and I broke down." Jacob hugged him and Seth sobbed into Jacob's chest long into the night.
***
La Push Beach, 12:00 PM:
Leah plodded along La Push's beach for a long period of time. She had come to be alone. She was not worried about her brother, for he could look after himself, no, she was worried about her mother. Sue Clearwater had dealt with the death of her husband surprisingly well. Too well, in point of fact. She was only slightly down at any one moment and when he was mentioned in conversation she acted perfectly normal. This meant one of three things; One, that she didn't love him and that there was nothing between them, two, that she had been having an affair, or three, which was the worst of the lot, that she was bottling it up inside until she couldn't take anymore and she would do something drastic. Like suicide. And/or murder.
She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Embry walking towards her down the beach. She bumped straight into him and had to look up at him. 'Hey, I didn't see you there' Leah said embarrassedly. Embry smiled at her, then replied 'No, me either. Hey, I was wondering, did you wanna go out sometime? You know, to the movies or something?' Leah looked quizzically at him and weighed up the pros ad cons of his request. Seeing her reaction Embry quickly cut in 'You don't have to, and it's not in that kind of way or anything, it was just…' Leah cut him off by saying 'Yeah, sure. How's tomorrow sound for you' Embry beamed and then said bubblingly 'So, do you want me to pick you up from your house tomorrow?' Leah thought then replied 'Nah, I'll walk to yours. See you then Em'. Embry farewelled, then ran across the beach in a skipping sort of way. Leah thought that it would be good to get away from her mourning brother and insane mother for a day. Besides, she was lonely, and who better than Embry to relieve that? She continued her walk along the beach happily, with a bounce in her step.
***
Forkes High School, 7:00 PM: Jessica Stanley sat at the desk in the school library, desperately trying to finish a trigonometry problem. It had been bugging her for the past two hours and she was beyond the point of frustration. She wanted to rid the book in half then burn the pieces and then bury the ashes, but she knew that that would be pointless. So she continued instead. She slaved and slaved, trying to get it finished.
Mike Newton walked past the door of the library and saw Jess there. He walked in and said 'Hey,' Jess replied by looking up and beaming at him. 'Oh my god Mike, thank you so much for coming here. I need company right now, and this trig problem is infuriating me beyond the point of insanity. I NEED ASSISTANCE!!!' Mike looked at her and said 'Look, my older sister is studying advanced mathematics at uni, did you want to come home with me and get her help instead of laboring at this task to no fruition?' Jess stared at him for a moment, then pecked him on the cheek and said 'Thank you so much Mike. You're my idol'. They walked out together, and Mike took Jess's hand in his.
***
Black Household, 7:00 PM: Billy Black sat watching a rugby game on the small TV at his house. A knock on the door came, and Sue Clearwater entered. 'Sorry to disturb, but is Seth here? He was distraught last night and he's disappeared into the woods somewhere.' Sue proclaimed to Billy. 'Sam said that he and Jake had gone for a run up in the mountains somewhere. He's in good hands, I'm sure he'll be fine.' Billy replied calmly.
Sue sat down next to him and sighed 'They grow up so fast don't they? One moment they are a little toddler pottering about and the next they're wolves in their own pack and running off without telling you'. Billy sighed as well, then uttered 'Jake and I had some good years, but yes, you're right. He's gone now, gone to have his own life and I'm a far smaller part of it now than I ever was.' Sue snuggled in closer to him and put her head on his shoulder. Billy sighed and put his arms around her. In companionable silence, they stayed there together and watched the game.