My Uncle Billy's house is very small, compared to my house in Joliet. I sat at his small, weak-looking dinner table in the middle of his kitchen. I looked around warily, looking at my wristwatch constantly, until Jacob showed up, bare-chested and sweating.

He glanced up at me as I stood up. He wiped his forehead on his arm, and said, "hey, Winnie

I nodded at him, and said, "Hey, Jake. Where were you?"

He glanced at Billy, question in his eyes. "Just out, running. When did you get here?"

Oh, just a little while ago. You just missed my ever-in-a-hurry mother, too busy to even take care of her daughter during the summer. I grimaced. She didn't even bother to come in. she just dumped me and my things at the airport, and ran to catch her flight to Florida, where she'll be staying for the rest of the summer, in order to avoid her ever-present ex-husband. They'd gotten a divorce when I was five, almost over a decade ago, and yet, there he was, all the time. Ever since I could remember, he'd been constantly there for my mother, whenever she needed financial help, or a weekend to get away from her kids. She took him for granted for the longest, and finally, last year he'd decided to start letting go. He'd started dating the wicked witch of the Midwest, and my mother was extremely jealous. The last straw was when my dad asked for primary custody of me, and my mother refused, claiming I was all she had left in her life. We all knew that was a lie, but rather than argue, my father let it drop, and decided he was going to marry Leanne, and move away to New York. There was something weird about him, when he had given up. He looked my mother right in the eye, and said, "When she starts attacking you, don't come looking for me to help. You brought this upon yourself." Then he'd turned to me, and grinned. My mom didn't want to let me come this summer, thinking my father would find a way to kidnap me, but I kicked and screamed until she finally let me go.

There was always something odd in the way my parents addressed me, like if they knew I had some incurable disease that they didn't want to tell me about. I always just attributed it to how I resembled my dad more then my mom, unlike my other siblings, who had the fair skin and complexion of my mother's Caucasian roots. I had slightly darker skin, not quite as dark as the Quileute's, but not as light as my mothers polish family. My hair was a deep red, almost burgundy. I had the deep-set black eyes of my father, and he used to joke that I was Billy's daughter. Maybe that's why they sent me away every summer...

They used to send my siblings with me too, but after a certain age, my father finally said they didn't have to go. My brother Jeremy was the last one to go through this arduous process, and now I had the obligation of keeping the family's native roots alive.

Billy turned in his wheelchair and headed towards us. "Her mother dropped her off about ten minutes ago. You didn't miss much, just her unpacking a few things."

"And exploring the inner recesses of your- oops, I mean, my new room." I grinned up at him. He was much taller than I remembered, and I had last visited last summer. I frowned. "Are you taking steroids, or something? You're bigger than I remember."

Jake chuckled. "You're pretty big yourself. Last time I saw you, you were up to here." He gestured near his midsection. I was almost at his shoulder now.

"Yeah, well, there's this thing, called puberty, which states that girls hit their growth spurts around my age--" I hadn't finished when he had pulled me into a bear hug. I started sweating at once—he was feverishly hot—and said "Welcome back, Winnie."

I pulled away.

Jake chuckled again, turned to Billy. "Where is the invitation?" Billy wheeled himself over to the drawers next to the refrigerator and pulled out a thick envelope. Jake grabbed it and started towards his room. I was uncomfortable staying in the small kitchen with Billy, so I followed Jake into his room.

He turned to me halfway down the (short) hallway. "Where are you going?"

"To your room."

He frowned and clenched his jaw. "I want to be alone."

I looked behind his thick abdomen. "I want to sleep in a bigger room the whole summer." I sauntered around him, almost into his room. "Looks like we're both going to be disappointed."

He intercepted my path, and shoved his way past me into his room. "Leave me alone." He almost shut the door in my face when I was standing on his bed. He turned and frowned again. "How'd you get in here so fast?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm pretty fast."

He shook his head and sat on the bed. "What do they feed you?" he opened the thick envelope.

I bounced on the bed, and sat down next to him. "What does Billy feed you? You're like a giant! And you need to cut your hair, too. Or, what, are you trying to impress a girl?" I laughed aloud. "Like that's ever gonna work."

"Alright, get out!" he shouted and tried picking me up and shoving me back out the door. "I don't have time for your crap!"

"No Jake, I'm sorry! I'll stop!" I protested, kicking and screaming, until he put me back down. I flipped my thick red hair out of my face, and put my hands on my hips. "Well, are you?"

He groaned and put his hands on his face. "You are such a pest!"

I smiled proudly. "Nothing changed with me. You're the one who's different this summer."

Jake flinched for a second.

"What did I miss?" I asked, concerned now. "Oh! What happened with that Bella girl you used to like? Is she still with that Cullen guy?"

"Jake, do you think maybe you could take Winnie out somewhere, you know, around? Introduce her to some of your friends?"

I turned to Billy. "That's a fantastic idea! Seeing as last year I was cooped up here the entire summer." Jake groaned again. "Maybe to Bella's house?"

Jake turned to me, hesitantly. Billy frowned. "I don't really think Jake is wanted there, Winnie."

I frowned this time. "Why not?"

Billy and Jake turned to each other knowingly, and I just pouted. "Take her around the reservation, Jake."

Jake closed his eyes for a second, contemplating the consequences of hanging around with me when his "reputation" was in enough danger as it is. He opened them again, sighing, and finally said, "Don't embarrass me."

I grinned wickedly. "When have I ever led you to believe that I was embarrassing?"

Jake walked quickly, probably trying to outrun me without making it obvious, as I tagged along next to him. Silly Jake. Didn't he see that my legs were nearly as long as his were? Therefore, trying to ditch me was absolutely out of the question?

He walked me down to First Beach, until finally, he stopped and turned sharply on his heel. "My friends are here, but you're going to go over there, and hang out with those younger kids." I turned to follow his eyes, and groaned immediately.

"Dude, they're like, ten, or something!" I protested.

"Aren't you?" he smiled, smugly.

I rolled my eyes at him. "I'm almost as old as you, don't forget that." I peered behind him, waving at a tall, muscular boy. He grinned sheepishly and waved back. "See? You're friends like me already."

Jake turned and grimaced at his friend. His face went bright red right then, and he shrugged. Jake groaned and put his hands up to his head. "Should I even bother keeping you away from them?"

I didn't answer. I didn't even look at him. Or his friends. Because behind them all, was the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen. He was the same russet colored skin as everyone else, and the same glossy black hair, but there was something about him. Maybe the twinkle in his eye, or the little hop to his step. Whatever it was made me stare like an idiot, until I finally realized we'd been making eye contact for about ten seconds, and looked away quickly before embarrassing myself further. Jake noticed the blush creeping up my neck, and laughed. He turned behind me to see what could've possibly embarrassed me, and frowned.

"I've never seen him around here." He looked back at me and crossed his arms.

I knew instantly what this meant, my brothers had pulled this one me many times before; I was not to come into contact until the situation had been thoroughly assessed, otherwise any communication between the said party and I would be prohibited. I pouted for a second, and turned around to sit on a log. "Why do you even care?" I mumbled, before kicking the dirt. Jake smiled and walked away towards his friends, but moving them all nearer to me, so I wouldn't sneak off and try to talk to the boy. They sat a few feet away, speaking in hushed voices. I sighed and turned back to look for the boy, trying to see what I could figure out about him. My eyes searched across the vast beach, until finally, I spotted him. He was sitting near the shore, bare-chested, holding a small book in his hands. The wind blew around him, and tousled his hair just a bit.

I turned back to Jake. "Can I go in the water?"

"Do you have a bathing suit?"

"I'm just gonna wade near the shore, in my shorts." I put my hand on my hip. "Unless of course, you want to see a real swimsuit model." I winked at his friends. They laughed, Jake had probably told them I was two years younger than them.

Jake said yes, and I pulled off my top. Underneath it was my bathing suit, black with bright neon pink and lime guns. My short shorts could stay on, since I hadn't quite developed the butt for a sexy bikini. I sat by the edge of the water, just letting my feet get wet. When I turned my head slightly to the side, I could see the boy, looking oh-so hot, still reading his book. I turned back to the water, thinking of ways I could possibly start a conversation with him. He was too far away to be able to see what he was reading, and Jake would probably kill me if I just went right up and started talking to him. Maybe if I pretended I was drowning, he would come to my rescue and pull me out of the water. Naw, Jake would probably reach me first. Oh, how I wish I had at least brought my sketchbook! I would draw the perfect silhouette of his arched back against the setting sun over the horizon...

I looked up at the sky, and sighed. It always looked beautiful at this time of day, twilight, someone had once told me. The sun was setting, sending across the sky the perfect blend of pinks and oranges, and leaving behind the starry night. I don't understand how some people don't like it. I doodled in the sand, and felt a light breeze pick up my short red bangs and send them into my eyes. I smiled to myself, and flipped my hair, in an effort to look sexy, and turned back to the boy. He was up on his feet, looking in my direction. I sat up as I realized he was looking right at me. I flipped my bangs again. the wind hadn't stopped. I felt a warm hand on my shoulder, and heard Jake's voice whisper, "Stop that, it looks like you have a twitch." I stopped, and felt the blood creeping up towards my face again. Jake handed me my shirt, and I slipped it on quickly, so I could at least catch one last glimpse of the beautiful boy.

I gasped.

He had moved closer, not twenty feet away, and was still staring at me, intently. From this distance, he looked sixteen, seventeen years old, tops. I could manage that. I was turning fifteen in August. His chest was perfectly chiseled. Oh, I sighed as I saw his six-pack. I snapped out of my trance when Jake smacked my arm. "We have to get home now."

I put my hand to my forehead, feeling light-headed all of a sudden. I nodded, and let Jake put his heavy arm around me to protect me from falling.

We arrived at his house in a short time. Billy was inside, on the phone. Jake sat down at the table, and I sat across from him.

"Did you have fun today?" Jake asked me.

"Barely," I replied, with a huff to my voice. "All I did was sit there, bored out of my mind."

"Why didn't you bring your sketchbook? I know how you love to draw."

"I was thinking that... I'm not sure if I brought it though."

Billy turned to us. "I ordered some pizza, if that's alright."

"Thanks, Dad." Jake stood and headed for the door. "I'll be back before it gets here." He pulled off his shirt.

"Thanks Billy." I smiled and stood, headed for Jake's room. I never felt very comfortably near him since his accident, so I always looked for ways to avoid conversation with him. I stepped into Jake's tiny room and started rummaging through the things I hadn't unpacked yet. I couldn't find my sketchbook anywhere. I sat on Jake's bed and pouted. I had sworn I had thrown it in under my clothes...

I returned to the kitchen dismally, seeing as I couldn't keep up my favorite hobby this summer. I sat on the couch as Billy flipped the channels, looking for something interesting to watch. He passed about a million things I wouldn't mind sitting a whole hour through, so I stood up and said I'd be outside. It was dark, so naturally he told me to be careful. I smiled at his unnecessary warning. It felt good to have someone watch out for me. I promised I'd be within calling distance, and pulled on my favorite hoodie. I sat on the steps outside their door. It was warm, so I pulled off my sweater and tied it around my waist. I stood and wandered to the edge of their property, and back again, then on to the other side. I felt like a lion, pacing around in its cage, waiting for someone to bring it its food, which I found somewhat amusing, since I was waiting for the pizza to arrive.

I wandered around Jake's garage. I was curious about whether he'd finished his car yet or not. I was about to go in, but I heard someone call my name.

My heart skipped a beat, for some reason hoping it would be the boy from the beach, but I turned and saw Jake, sweaty, and tired looking again.

"The pizza's here," he said smiling. Last summer, he's seen me pig out on a whole large pizza, and almost died of laughter after we found that I had gained three pounds in one sitting.

I smiled back half-heartedly. "Okay." I skipped up the steps and into the kitchen.

Billy was already sitting, putting two slices on his plate. I noticed there were three pizzas, not one, like last year. I looked at Jake, a puzzled expression on my face.

He wiped some grease from his chin. "One for me, one for you, and one for Billy." He half-grinned at me, and I did like a five year old and stuck my tongue out at him. He laughed.

I stared at the pizza for a moment, until I finally decided I didn't care. I pulled my pizza toward me and started eating it at once. Jake's raised his eyebrows at me when I refused a paper plate. He handed me a cup full of soda, and I chugged it down quickly. I had eaten five slices, when Billy patted my arm. "Calm down, Winnie."

"Yeah, don't give yourself a heart attack," Jake agreed, before shoving two slices in his mouth. "Heart problems run in our family."

I grimaced. His mouth was full, and all the pizza was falling out. "You're disgusting."

We kept eating until we'd finally finished all the pizza. Jake and I lay on the floor, bloated and uncomfortable. We kept sighing and burping, until finally we were well enough to get up and go to our room. I grabbed my pajamas and went to the bathroom to change. When I came out, Jake was laying on the sofa, snoring lightly. Billy was in his room, getting ready to sleep. I crept silently past his door, but he caught me anyways.

"Winnie?" he asked.

I turned and put on my best smile. "Yeah?"

"I was wondering... are you okay? You don't seem like yourself."

I shrugged. "I feel like myself."

"You seem... different."

I frowned. "How so?"

Billy frowned for a second. "Almost... irritable."

Irritable? I hadn't been here long enough to show him irritable. He should hear the fights me and my mom get into back home. "No, I'm fine. But thanks for your concern. If there's something wrong, I wont hesitate to ask for help." Darn my mother and her polite and courteous ways. Even trying to tell Billy to shove off came out sounding right. I shook my head. I turned to head back to Jake's room, and glanced at him. He was so asleep, it wasn't even funny. I turned to Billy again.

"Jake stays out later these days. It wears him out a lot."

I frowned. "So then, it's not a very good idea that I'm here?"

"He needs the company. He's been going through a lot these days."

"Ah." I nodded. "I see. Well, goodnight Billy." I started towards Jake's room. I stepped through the doorway. I searched once more for the book, but finally gave up. I pulled back the covers on Jake's bed and lay in it. I turned this was and that, until finally I was comfortable.