A City Apart

Chapter 1

"Quil! Get a hold of yourself!" Jacob Black hissed, only to be greeted by hysterical laughter. He cringed inwardly at the noise as it echoed down the grimy alley. "Quil!" But Quil wasn't sober enough to comprehend the words hissed at him and Jacob was left to scowl in exasperation as he stepped forward and grabbed Quil by the arm.

"Jake," Quil giggled as he was dragged through the alley, "I do love it when you're rough with me."

"Not now, Quil," Jacob pressed as he scanned the dimly lit street ahead of them with dark, wary eyes. They were in dangerous territory, one patrolled by the meanest of gangs. It was, however, the quickest route home, and Jacob had decided to chance it.

"But Jake...," Quil slurred happily as he followed unsteadily behind Jacob.

"Qu...," Jacob started, fending off Quil as he leaned in for a sloppy kiss. Somewhere down the street, a purr of an engine crept its way to Jacob's sharp ears. Quietly, almost silently, but there.

Jacob searched frantically for the nearest hideaway and dashed into an alley, but turned too late when he realized that Quil had not followed. Heart pounding in fear, he made to step back out but was frozen to the spot by the headlights that suddenly flooded the street. "Quil!" he managed to hiss, but too late. The drunken grin that Quil turned at him transformed into a mask of pure agony when three distinct gunshots pierced the air. Jacob watched in horror as Quil toppled to the ground, faintly heard the car drive off, and only felt numbness when he dropped to his knees beside the only person that had ever truly meant anything to him.

"Quil," he whispered brokenly. God there was so much red. Quil shifted weakly when Jacob grasped his hand. God there was so much red. "Quil, no." So much red. Quil mouthed something at him, but Jacob couldn't understand it. He could only see the sadness in Quil's eyes. The sadness, and the acceptance. Red. "Quil, I..." love you, he thought, but it came out as, "I'm sorry." His heart burned, turned to ashes. Quil's eyes close, never to open again, and... God, why was there so much blood?

~o~

The bottle shattered against the wall, and it was a satisfying sound, enough to break the memory. But the sound of broken glass sprinkling the floor drew unwanted footfalls. "Jacob?" Embry's voice asked from behind him. Slightly wary, mostly weary.

"Go away," Jacob muttered, eyes clenched. His thoughts were traitorous. He wasn't supposed to remember. Embry's presence did not shift. He did not go away.

"Leave me alone!" Jacob yelled this time. He faintly heard a sigh before feeling Embry retreat. Opening his eyes, Jacob glared at the sliver of sunlight streaking between the curtains of his otherwise dark and cluttered room and lit the corner of his bed. He seethed, fists clenching at how the light reminded him of Quil. Of how he used to sit under that ray of light, reading or just keeping him company.

His head hits the desktop with a thud. He wasn't weak. He shouldn't be remembering. Shouldn't be missing. Quil was dead, had been for nearly three years. His head hits the desk again, the thud resonating through the room. Jacob wasn't weak.

~o~

"Jacob, I need you to do something," Sam Uley, their leader said on the phone. His tone was low and serious. Ah, another dirty job.

"Not today," Jacob hissed into the phone. He pulled at his short hair. Frustrated. But he wasn't sure at what.

"Jacob," Sam's voice took on a more dangerous edge. Jacob shifted, leaned against the wall casually. He wasn't afraid of Sam. "This is important. We need the money. You know the Lakeside Wolves are suffering. This money could put a better meal on our table."

"Right," Jacob said, flexing his hand. "Not today, Sam."

"Jacob," Sam's tone was commanding. Threatening.

"I said not today, Sam," Jacob growled, eyes flashing dangerously. There was a pause. A huff. The line went dead. Jacob was strong. Even the alpha was afraid of him.

~o~

Ironically, he found himself being tackled on top of the impressive mess he's made in the convenience store at the gas station. He wriggled and flailed, fighting to get free. Just as he was making some progress, another weight descended on his back. Jacob growled, saw red. Angry, he was always so angry. His hands were cuffed behind his back and he was hauled unceremoniously to his feet. Holding his head high and proud, Jacob let himself be shoved into the police cruiser. Though only seventeen, almost eighteen, his juvenile record was pages and pages long.

~o~

He was sentenced to ten days of jail, a fine of two hundred dollars, and lord, 100 hours of community service. Sam was going to be so pissed. The gang could not spare two hundred dollars. He would be paying out of his pocket, which he would've been contributing to the gang. And the hundred hours? Even less time to contribute to the Wolves. But throwing that stuff down on the floor in his sudden temper had felt so good. Jacob rarely ever felt anything resembling good. He knew anger and hate and bitterness and more anger. Feeling good was strange, but a part of him liked it. But that part of him was weak and he trampled it.

The others at the holding center eye him with unconcealed interest, even some hunger. He was fresh meat. Jacob smirked (the only expression aside from glaring or scowling he allowed himself to have) coldly at the hard eyes and settled into a defensive posture. Fight me, he silently challenged. I dare you. Some of them took cautious steps forward and Jacob laughed mirthlessly at them inside. He lived for impromptu brawls (and... more private activities). They made him feel powerful, in control. Good practice for when he took over Sam's position as ringleader.

One of the boys struck first, fast but not fast enough. Jacob could see that the boy was street trained, but was no match for him. Few were. He grinned as he dodged the next few blows, but his cockiness soon got the better of him this time as a fist connected solidly with his face. A fist that belonged to another, bigger boy. Jacob barely felt the pain and was quick to regain his momentarily upset balance, but his vision clouded with a red haze. The blow had made him angry, and anger fueled his power. Not that he didn't have more than enough fuel already.

~o~

Ten days later, Jacob found himself at the hospital with a police escort, reporting for his 100 hours of community service. A dark bruise marred his face (reminiscent of his third brawl), highlighting the scowl and accentuating the cold steely gaze of his dark brown eyes. Of all the places they sent him, it had to be a hospital. Sick and injured people made him recoil in disgust. They made him uncomfortable. As he was led through the different hallways and taken up in an elevator, Jacob knew that they wanted him to suffer the consequences of his actions. He was stuck there for six hours a day, which meant seventeen days of hell. Damn them all. Jacob was only complying because he couldn't afford any more or major trouble with the law. The gang was stretched thin these days and needed his help in gaining ground and income. Not to mention that he wanted to help. Afterall, they were the closest thing to family he had, the only people he at least cared about.

~o~

"I'm Rosalie. I'm in charge of you for your time here. You report to me and me only." The nurse, Jacob decided was a bitch. He scowled darkly at her, thinking of how easily he could knock her out before she even knew what hit her. At least, he thought as he swept a cold gaze over her, she was easy on his eyes. Not that it mattered, he preferred boys. Oh yes, muscular, tough boys.

"Wipe that scowl off year face, young wan, and get to work. I don't care what your problem is, but if you're sent here to work, you better do a good job of it." She sounded like a drill sergeant or something. Which Jacob thought was funny, coming from the blond haired blue eyed model looking nurse. She pointed to a pile of rags and cleaning solution beside her station. "Move it, Jacob Black." I expect every window and glass surface in this unit to be nice and clean by lunch." That got a reaction out of him.

"You've got to be kidding me," he growled after a quick glance around the unit. The anger was returning full force. Not good.

"Nope," Rosalie snarked, "now get on it!" The glower she leveled at him was pretty decent, he had to admit. She was clearly as unhappy about being stuck with him as he was with her. Which was understandable, but too bad. Rosalie had turned away to resume her work when Jacob called her back.

"But lunch is in only a few hours!" he nearly whined. Nearly. Jacob Black didn't do whining. She raised an eyebrow at him in reply. Swearing and muttering, Jacob grudgingly picked up the supplies and headed to the furthest window, as far away from the bitch as he could get in this ridiculously large unit. Dammit, but this was so unfair!

~o~

He was sitting by one of the many, many windows eating a sandwich and contemplating his familiar situation. Hours had passed and Jacob was relishing in his much deserved lunch break. Though bitter and more than angry about the current predicament, he had no regret. He did not deal in regrets. But as he peered out into the city, home to many other gangs beside his own, the faint reflection of himself catches his eyes and he studied it. Cold, emotionless eyes, a bruised cheek, down turned lips, all on a still young face. He was nothing more than an angry teen lost in a too big world. But he was strong, that was better than nothing. And...he had no attachments so he would never suffer another heartbreak. He lived for his gang, his art. For now, that was enough to keep him waking up every day.

Taking another bite of his sandwich, Jacob stared past his reflection and out onto the city once more, wonder if there was ever going to be anything truly worth living for.

~o~

"Ouch, that looks painful," a voice said, startling Jacob out of his trance. Looking up, he found a boy about his age leaning against the window and peering warmly at him. Jacob involuntarily dropped his gaze immediately, uncomfortable with the warm look.

"What does?" He's surprised he doesn't sound the least menacing as he was known to when startled.

"Your face."

"Oh. It doesn't hurt at all," Jacob said confidently, getting to his feet so that he towered over the boy with the copper colored hair. A brief silence passed over them before the boy spoke again.

"Tell me about the city? I haven't been out there in so long I wonder if things have changed a lot." This made Jacob look down at his new companion in surprise. When he noticed the loosely tied robe and slippers on the boy's feet, however, he guessed that he must be a patient at the hospital. And for some reason, Jacob actually felt something other than disgust in the face of a patient. He felt...sad...fleetingly... but that couldn't be right.

"Well..." he started, but was struck speechless when the boy looked up at him with the most beautiful emerald green eyes on the most beautiful face he had ever seen in his life.

"I'm Edward," the boy with the green eyes and angelic face said. God forbid, Jacob felt a stirring in the pile of ashes that was his heart.

~o~

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