Chapter 1: Changing

I stopped to study my face in the mirror. I had gotten so use to doing that everyday but for the last year, there had been no detectable difference. This time it was just a glance not my usual scrutiny. I wondered if Jacob would see a difference that I didn't. He had been gone a week and I missed him terribly. Jacob was my very best friend but this summer things seemed different between us, at least for me. Suddenly I was shy around him. I thought about him all the time. I didn't know where this was coming from and it was making me more than a little crazy not knowing if he felt this way toward me. There were times when I thought maybe but I was never really sure. It wasn't like I could just come out and ask him.

Tonight was going to be fun. There was a big beach party down by LaPush and Jake had promised he would be back to take me. Alice and Rosalie had taken me shopping and I had gotten an awesome bikini. I was hoping Jacob would notice that and hopefully my parents wouldn't. There was history between the three of them which they all seemed reluctant to share.

I shoved my cover up and towel in my bag. Then I heard Jacob's booming laugh and raced downstairs. He and Rosalie were sparring. They had a love- hate relationship. Well, I'm not sure about the love part. Maybe a tolerate- hate relationship, I mused.

"Don't you knock, dog?" Rosalie sneered. Jacob laughed and said, "Well, I wasn't sure you knew how to open a door, Blondie."

"Oh, too funny." Rosalie said dryly.

"Hi Jake," I quickly interceded. "Hi Ness." Jake said.

"I'm all ready," I told him, holding up my bag. Edward appeared in the door.

"So what time will you be home?" Edward said in a serious voice. I rolled my eyes.

"Home by midnight," Jacob said to him with a shrug of his shoulders. Edward just nodded. "Everything ok on your trip, Jacob?" Edward asked with a tone of concern in his voice. This had me looking toward Jacob. I knew that he and Sam had gone to visit a tribe in New Mexico that had contacted them recently. They were claiming that some of them had changed into werewolves too. The Quilleutes were unconvinced of this. I wonder what he had found out but Jacob just nodded his head slowly. "Yes, it is going to require more investigation though." Edward nodded back intently and I was sure Jacob was telling him more and Edward was reading it in his head. I hated when they did that.

"Bye Dad." I said while I popped a quick kiss on his cheek. "See you tonight."

"Have a good time, love." Edward said and stroked my cheek.

Jacob and I got in his car. "This is so cool, Jacob!" I exclaimed. Jake had just restored a 1980's BMW. "Thanks" he grinned. "I just got it done." He revved the engine and speed out of the drive.

We had to stop and pick up some of the food at Emily's. Two coolers were packed full of food and two more held the drinks. Emily had gone all out. Everything would be gone in minutes with these huge werewolves.

Quil, Embry, Seth and Paul were already at the beach when we pulled up. Jacob recruited them to haul out the coolers. "Why don't you hang out with the girls while we get the bonfire going, "Jacob said. "Ok," I said and striped off my t-shirt and shorts. Jacobs head snapped up. "What is that?" he said in a harsh whisper. "What is what?" I said looking around. He pointed to my bikini. "You like it? " I asked, "It's new. Alice, Rose and I went shopping." "There's barely anything to like, "he said in a annoyed tone. I threw him a dirty look, took my towel and walked to where Kim and the other girls were laying out. Secretly, I was glad he had noticed.

Later Jacob, Seth and I started playing Frisbee keep away with Seth in the middle. He could jump incredibly high and before 10 minutes had passed, he snagged the Frisbee I threw toward Jacob.

"Ok, your turn in the middle, Ness, "Seth called cheerfully. I was miserable at this game and soon Seth and Jacob were tossing the Frisbee casually between them. Seth threw the Frisbee low and I ran backward. Jacob wasn't paying attention and I slammed into him. He grabbed me around the waist and we both fell back laughing. I turned over and grabbed the Frisbee laying by Jake's head. "Hey, I got the Frisbee, "I said gleefully.

"You can't count that," Jacob scoffed. "Hey you two done making out over there or what, "Seth called. We both blushed. "So I think it's your turn now," I said to Jake. By the time we got up and looked for Seth, he had gone over to sit with the girls. "Guess the games over." Jake said ruefully.

"Hey, you want to go for a walk?" Jake asked. It was near dusk now and the elders should be arriving soon to tell the stories. I always looked forward to that part.

"So did your parents decide about you starting school?" Jake asked.

"Yes," I said," I am going to start this fall. Now I don't know if I am excited or scared," I laughed. I had lobbied hard to be able to start school either in LaPush or Forks. I would start as a junior and our story was going to be that I was a relative of Edward, staying with Carlisle and Esmee. I spent all day with my vampire family and felt that I understood that half of me. The only true human that I was around on any regular basis was Grandpa Charlie and I am not sure you could call him a well rounded study in human emotions. The thought made me smile. I loved Grandpa Charlie to pieces. You could just be yourself with him.

"So what did you find out about the New Mexico tribe?' I asked curiously.

"Not much really, "Jacob said thoughtfully. "There is a female leader and 5 other males that reportedly are werewolves. We didn't contact them directly. There is just something odd about all of this."

"Didn't old Quileutera say that there were some Quileutes who left the tribe years ago?" I queried.

"Umm, yeah, that's what he said but why are they contacting us and why now? And most importantly what made them transform?" Jake said.

"Good questions," I nodded, "so what now?"

"We are going to go back for a second scouting visit and maybe talk to them." Jacob said. My face fell. "When do you have to leave?" I said, pouting but trying not to sound like it. "Oh, I don't know," Jake said, throwing a rock out into the waves, "probably not till the fall. The elders are trying to gather some more information too."

I sighed with relief. We walked back and the elders were there. The food was being devoured and Jake joined in. I had never imagined that one person could eat so much. He looked at me apologetically. I laughed.

Then everyone settled around the fire and Billy, Jacob's father started with the old tribe stories. It was cool by then and I moved toward Jacob, who was always so warm. He moved his legs and I scooted back and leaned against his chest. My mom was right. The stories felt like magic but too soon they were over. One by one everyone got up and stated cleaning up. Jake asked Billy the time. It was only 10:40pm.

"Ness and I will stay and make sure the fire is out." Jacob told the others. He turned toward me, "Is that ok?" I nodded and got up to help pack up some of the empty dishes. When everyone was gone, I sat back by Jacob.

"I love those stories, "I smiled, "I never get tired of hearing them."

"Me either," Jacob agreed. We sat quietly for a while, listening to the waves and watching the sparks from the fire fly out. I turned my head and at the same time, Jacob and I spoke, "this is a perfect night." We laughed and then Jacob grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me. I was frozen for just a minute and then I sighed into his lips. He pulled his face away from and looked at me with such a questioning stare. It reminded me of Grandpa Carlisle when he was inspecting me for any changes in my person, like I was under a microscope. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to say anything. Everything that went through my mind sounded ridiculous. "I'm sorry, Ness." Jacob said at last.

"Sorry?" I questioned, "For what?" He raised his eyebrows. "Well, that didn't feel wrong to me." I stated. His eyebrows just pulled together. "But maybe we should try it again," I whispered, taking matters into my own hands. My eyes closed and I leaned into him. My arms went around his neck. His hair was so silky and I wound my fingers through it. This time, I pulled back. "Yep, nothing to be sorry for." I said lightly with a smile.

Jacob didn't say anything but I wished he would. I wished he would tell me what he was thinking. Maybe I was a horrible kisser. "Jake," I started to say. He stood suddenly and grabbed my hand to pull me up. Then he turned and started kicking sand on what was left of the fire. "It's pretty late and I had better get you home," he said matter of factly. I got my bag and headed for the car. This was one of those times when I really longed for a girlfriend who I could hash all this out with tomorrow. Having a friend was one of the things I was hoping high school would provide. Maybe I could talk to Alice, I mused on my way to the car.

We drove home making small talk about the bonfire. Jacob walked me to the porch and gave me a small kiss on the lips before sprinting off the stairs. Hoping I could sneak up to my room, I tiptoed as quietly as possible toward the stairs.

"Did you have a good time, "my mom asked appearing out of no where. I grimaced. This is one of the drawbacks of being the only person who required sleep in the house.

"It was fun." I said trying to keep my voice light. Bella studied my face for a minute. "How were Jacob and Billy?" she asked.

"Fine. Mom, I'm pretty tired. I will give you all the details in the morning." I said quickly kissing her cheek. She hugged me and stroked me hair. "I'm holding you to that," she laughed.