AN: Keep in mind that all the imprints are different to the Twilight books. I'm using characters from the book and the events that happened. A few key points on characters; Bella doesn't know about vampires or werewolves, and Leah is not a werewolf, while Charlie is Renee's brother in this story.
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1
Today was like any other day, I woke up and got dressed for school then stumbled over my feet while walking downstairs to the kitchen. Quickly, I grabbed a nut and fruit bar and ate it while driving to school because I was late and over slept yet again.
Pulling into the school parking lot, my friends already walking to class, Angela slowed down to stayed at the school gates waiting for me. I found a parking spot at the end, jumping out of the vehicle and grabbing my school bag, I almost tripped over my own feet running towards Angela. Angela went to open her mouth to speak but I held my hands up in surrender.
"I know, I know. Late again. Thanks for waiting Ang." Angela and I walked as fast as we could to our maths class. We were lucky enough to get there before the teacher did. The only seats left were the ones in the back row, Angela and I sat in them. The teacher walked in and class started. I saw Mike Newton turn around in his chair, he give me a smile and a small wave. I politely gave one back, not that I was interested in him.
I'm new in Forks have been here for three days and every guy at high school seems to thinks it's cool to try to hit it off with me. Let's just say that none of them have worked out, I'm not interested and completely comfortable with being single. Most of the guys seemed too given up, every guy except for Mike Newton. He seemed like a nice enough bloke but I doubted he could compete with my other friend, Jacob Black. It had been awhile since the duo had seen each other face to face but I still spoke to him over the phone when I was away from Folks. Now that they were in the same state, their connection seem to have gone silent suddenly.
My hometown had been Phoenix and while time passed Folks had become a second home for me, a place to relax and re-boost before seeing my mother again. Now, I'm living with Uncle Charlie, the relationship between us can sometimes be odd but I think that's because he doesn't know the first thing about a seventeen year old teenage girl. I simply eased his fears and told him the truth, I could take care of myself as I had been while living with her mother.
The last six months had probably been the hardest for my mother, Renee and myself. She'd slowly been dying from the cancerous cells throughout her body and I'd become her carer, while at times I'd be sent to Charlie on respite before going back to my mother worse than the previously week.
When the end had come, Charlie took a plane to Phoenix to help with arrangements before packing me up for Forks, seeming Charlie was the only blood family that I knew about. He knew who my biological father is, had promised Renee to tell me when the time was right – I thought being seventeen and without a mother was the time to show me that I had more family, more support. As Chef Police of La Push, he sticks to his promises.
"Isabella Swan, What is 150 + 65?" I got snapped out of my thoughts by the maths teacher standing in front of me.
"Um... that's 215, Sir." It was a simple question, but it was the teacher's way of getting our attention.
"Correct, pay attention Miss Swan." The teacher continued with his lesson, I had yet to remember the name of the teacher with so many new faces.
The rest of the day went pretty much the same, it was last class now with seconds until freedom and minutes away from the weekend. I was drawing on my science book when the school bell rang through the building. The sound had me closing my book and packing my bag, while the teacher spoke to us about homework. "Now class, don't forget to read the section on page 98-132 and do all the questions for the weekend." Great - there goes my free weekend.
I walked out of science into the busy corridor, everyone was rushing around to start their weekend. On my right, I saw Angela walking towards me. "Hey Ang, what you got planned for the weekend?"
"Hey Bells, got a ton of English homework. I swear the teachers think we have nothing better to do. On the plus I'm going to hang out with Eric on Sunday. Did you want to join us?" Eric Yorkie is Angela's boyfriend, they have been together for a few years now.
"No thanks, I'm sure you and Eric would like time alone." Angela blushed at my comment. I knew she wanted some alone time, Angela was just being nice. "Anyway, I'm not really up for watching a live porn movie."
"Bella!" I couldn't help but laugh. I knew that would get a reaction from her.
"I'm joking. I know you guys haven't done the birds and the bees, yet." Angela blushed and slapped my arm.
She cleared her throat, changing the subject in a heartbeat. "Sooo do you have anything planned?"
"Yeah I had lots planned, until I got science homework." We arrived at our lockers, Angela was four lockers away from me and most the corridor was empty so we didn't need to yell.
"Isn't that how it always works. You think of having a free weekend, then at the last minute you get homework and it all goes at out the window."
"Your right about that Ang, I wish it could be different." I said while putting my science book into my backpack.
We grabbed our school bags and headed out to the parking lot where my red Chevy truck was parked. Eric was leaning on his car waiting for Angela like usual, I waved to Eric and said in his direction. "See ya Eric, have a fun weekend." Eric did the same back and before I knew it, I was driving home and parking outside the white house.
The Police cruiser was parked outside, meaning Charlie was home. I grabbed my school bag from the truck and headed inside. I could hear the TV buzzing, Charlie was hitting with the flat palm of his hand while the TV had a black screen. I don't think he realized I was home because he was swearing like a sailor. "Hey Charlie, what's wrong with the TV?" Charlie jumped at the sound of my voice.
"The damn TV isn't working and the big game is meant to be on tonight." Charlie hit the TV again. I left Charlie and his broken TV down stairs while I went for a shower.
These days I had bad odour which led to showering twice a day, I believed that I was still sweating out the cold that I got a last week. It had really tired me down, meaning I haven't gone to school for the week or moved from my bed for more than half an hour without being exhausted.
After refreshing myself and putting new clothes on, I headed to the kitchen. I finished coming down the stairs when Charlie got off the phone. I cooked every night so I was hoping to cook something nice that might help his bad mood. "What do you want for dinner tonight?" I opened the fridge, waiting for a reply. When I didn't get one, I turned around to find Charlie scratching his head. "Charlie?"
"Well Bells, I really don't want to miss the final game of the season. So I called up Billy Black. We're going over there for dinner."
Any other time, I wouldn't have minded going over to Jacob's house but he'd been acting strange lately and had a new crowd of friends that I would rather not mingle with. "Can I stay here? I'll cook something for myself." Almost sounding like I was begging my Uncle.
"Sorry Bells, we're all having a BQQ with everyone and that includes you."
"Who's everyone?" I asked curious.
"The Blacks, Clearwaters and some others." He answered while heading back to the lounge room.
"The BQQ's at seven, you have a few hours til then but we'll leave here at 6.30."
"Yes, Charlie." I slammed the fridge door closed and went to my bedroom. It was a great start to the weekend, not.
I was lying on my bed, trying to think of ways to get out of the situation, I came up empty every time. So I did my science homework.
Time went faster than I would have liked, I was half way through reading my science text book, so I packed my school bag along with a reading book and my iPod just in case - this is my solution to the night. I pulled a blue hoodie on and passed the mirror, catching my reflection at the tried brown eyes and clammy pale skin. I ignored my reflection, it would have to do for the night.
Charlie was waiting for me in the hallway, we locked the door before heading for the car and drove to La Push. Charlie and I didn't talk much, he tried making small talk about the warm weather. I wasn't really in the mood for talking, I just wanted the night to be over with.
It was nearly 7 o'clock when we pulled up at the Black's house. Everything looked the same as always, back when Jake and I use to hang out all the time before he found the guys. The one thing that pisses me off the most is, the place feels like home. I didn't realize Charlie had gotten out of the cruiser until he called my name.
"Bella, Come on. You're not going to sit in there all night." I was planning to, just to show Charlie how brave I was I got out of the car and walked straight pass him to the backyard, where the BQQ was been held.
I didn't get far into the backyard before everyone went quiet and turned to my direction. Yeah this was perfect, not. Charlie walked in only a few minutes after me, everyone saw him and turned back around and started chatting again. God I didn't think I changed that much since I last came here, sure I've grow a bit and turned into a woman. Well... still am turning into a woman but it didn't mean everyone had to act strange. The plus side, Jacob and the guys weren't here - thank god. The only familiar people were Sue and Leah Clearwater who were talking to Emily Young near the bon fire.
I wasn't really sure where I should go, so I followed Charlie as he walked straight over to Billy Black and Harry Clearwater. "How you been Billy?" The eldest Black was a nice man, almost like a father to me. I've got nothing against him, it's just everyone else that treated me like a leech.
"I'm great Charlie, at least my TV works." The men had a chuckle about that. "Hello Bella, haven't seen you for a while. How is life?"
"Hey Billy, it's alright. Got the flu the other week but apart from that nothing new." I saw Charlie and Billy exchange a glance with each other.
"Well you let us know if you need a hand with anything." Harry stepped into conversation, feeling the tension between the two other men.
I nodded my head in 'thanks' before smiling at the men, I eased myself from their side and quietly walked around the front of the Black's house to the steps. I sat down at them and couldn't help the few tears that fell down my cheeks at the memories of this place - This was where everything happened.
Memories of Renee and I playing in the front yard of Billy's place came back to me, and the time I fell over on the pavement with Renee right behind me to stand my little body back up. Billy had helped Jake and I ride our push bikes for the first time. As kids we also made mud pies in the backyard. And now, Jake seemed so far away with not returning my phone calls and suddenly finding new friends.
I didn't even realised I wasn't alone anymore until Billy rolled his wheelchair out in front of me. I couldn't help it when I saw Billy, I cried even more. "Come here Isabella." I got up from the steps and sat on Billy's lap in the wheelchair. He wrapped his arms around me and I relaxed into him, feeling like my seven year old self again.
After the tears died down, I stayed seated in Billy's lap. My breathing turned calm while Billy stroked with my hair in ways that reminded me of Renee doing the same. "Thanks Billy."
"I'm here, whenever you need someone. Love you Bells." Billy kissed the top of my head, reminding me that I have more than Charlie for support.
"Love you too." I hugged him closer, taking comfort in the idea of not being alone.
"Come on Bells, let's get you some food." I got up from Billy's lap and walked around his wheelchair to push him into the backyard. I could feel people looking at me. I must be a sight to see with my eyes puffy and red from crying.
I pushed Billy over to where Charlie and Harry were sitting. I put Billy next to Charlie and took a seat next to the wheelchair, using it to lean against. Billy, Charlie and Harry were talking about the big game on tonight, I was only half listening when I heard Leah shouting out which caught my attention.
Coming from the edge of the forest was Jake and his eight friends. He wasn't the Jake I knew, that was clear to me. This Jake was muscles with an eight pack, his long black hair was cut short and he was only wearing shorts. Jake's friends didn't look any different, actually they all looked like brothers, very attractive brothers.
Before I could take any more in, Leah Clearwater ran up to Jake and kissed him. I love Jake in a brotherly way, but I never thought I'd see them together. Billy must have seen where I was looking. "Jake and Leah, love at first sight." I knew he meant something else by his words from his tone but I couldn't figure it out.
"I never thought I'd see them together." I answered truthfully.
"Don't worry Bells, Jake is happy and Leah isn't going to hurt him."
"She better not. Or I'll send her to hospital." Billy laughed at my words. I was telling the truth, she hurts Jake and I'll hurt her twice as bad.
"I don't think you should try hurting her, you might end up in hospital too." I know that was true, by looking over at the eight tan guys.
"Who are those guys? They look a bit scary, huge." And hot, I muttered the last to myself.
One of the guys lifted his head and looked at me, I stared in shock. "Billy, one of them is little Seth." Though as I looked at him, he really wasn't the scrawny guy I remembered.
Billy laughed. "Yeah, that's Seth, not so little anymore."
"Seriously, how did they get so big? Are they taking steroids?" That would explain the size.
"Bella, there is nothing to worry about." He tried to reassure me, but I couldn't help doubt what the guys were doing. Before I could question him any further, someone called out my name.
"Bella! Is that you?!" I looked up and saw Jake walking towards me. Before I could react, he grabbed me into a bear hug and he was hot, like temperature hot.
"Jake, I can't-t brea-t-h." Jacob quickly put me back on the ground once the words left my mouth.
"Sorry Bells, how are you been?" Jake patted me on the head, making me feel small under his towering height - I'm older than this guy and his bloody taller than me.
"Pretty good, you?" I left out details as I wasn't sure where our friendship stood.
"Same here, it's great to see you Bells." He gave me one of his smiles and I couldn't help but feel at ease with him. "I want you to meet the guys." He led me over to the group of equally tall men and got their attention. "This Jared, Embry, Seth, Paul, Collin, Brady, Quil and Sam."
I looked at them, maybe checking them out was a better word. Jared and Embry looked like someone I could get along with, while Paul looked like a cocky guy. Collin, Brady and Seth looked the youngest, Quil seeming like he couldn't lay a hand of anyone and Sam...well he was something else.
Everything about him yelled 'fuck me' with the way my body tingled, my mouth dry and my stomach doing flips. His tall, tan and handsome, what couldn't you like? He was wearing shorts like everyone else and they hung dangerously low on his hips, showing the V downwards and last but not least were his eyes.
It felt like the world had stopped spinning. The way he looked at me was amazing, like I was the only girl in the world - they held so much love and affection. And me? My whole body felt like it could explode, my heart felt too large in my chest. There was a strange of pull, making me want to be closer to this stranger. The sensations running through my body put me in a dangerous balance of being curious and frightened.
"Hey, I'm Sam Uley." I couldn't stop repeating his name in my head - Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam.
"Bella Swan." I looked at him with a small smile.
"Yeah I know, Jakes told me a bit about you."
"Nothing bad?" I said hopeful, knowing that Jake and I had gotten into some mischievous behaviour at a young age.
"Something about you running around his house naked with one of Billy's shirts around your neck yelling, I'm here to save the day." A few laughs sounded and I blushed bright red.
"Umm... yeah." I turned around to Jake and gave him a glare, to which he stepped behind Leah for a shield.
Paul came over to me, his gaze running the length of me. "Anyone told your hot?" I beliefly heard growling sound behind me.
"I know, I look hundred times hotter than you'll ever be." I threw him a smile.
"Well I could show you just how hot I can be." Paul wiggled his eyebrows as the growling behind us grew louder. Yeah, I was right saying he was cocky.
"Nope, I don't think you or any other guy could give me that pleasure." The growling stopped suddenly and Paul didn't come up with a comeback before Charlie yelled out.
"Dinners ready! Come and get it!" The guys seem to zone in on Charlie and the table of food. It was like a herd of Elephants. You should have seen how much food the guys put on their plates. It was stacked up high with food and they went for seconds and thirds.
With everyone was eating and talking, I took a seat against a tree as I felt somewhat calmer sitting near the forest. I don't know what happened before with Jake and his friends. I mean I'm angry that Jake left me for them but hanging around the guys felt like home, just like the forest and Billy's house. It was strange because I wanted to be angry with them and at the same time I don't - It was too confusing.
"Bella, have you had something to eat?" Charlie's voice sounded worried, having noticed the change in the young woman's appetite.
"I'm not hungry." It wasn't a lie, I felt more sick then anything.
"Bella, you need to eat." He argued, taking a step in his niece's direction.
"I feel uneasy, I'll just go for a walk and relax." I got up and walked into the forest before Charlie could say anything further.
The walk in the forest was calming me down. I could hear birds singing and the deer's feet hitting the ground with each step they took. And there was a river close. I didn't go exploring, I just sat under a tree and listened to the forest. The sounds it made and the animals living here.
I could hear another pair of feet moving, it didn't sound like the deer. They were light but this one was heavy. I could just hear it, it was coming closer. I looked in the direction of the heavy feet, waiting to see what would appear. A few minutes later a Black wolf was standing there, he looked a bit surprised that I waiting for him. You would think if I saw a wolf I would be running in the opposite direction, but the wolf didn't feel like a threat to me.
The black wolf slowly got down on his stomach and crawled towards me. He was about a metre away from me when he stopped. I felt like I have seen the black wolf before, but I know I've never seen one in real life. A feeling in my stomach was telling me that knew him from somewhere, his eyes showed so affection, just like someone else I met.
We sat there staring at each other. I didn't even realise my hand was reaching out to touch him until I felt the soft fur. I didn't except it to be soft, I thought it would feel coarse to touch.
I don't know how long I sat there with the black wolf, patting him and listening to the forest. That I even found myself talking to the black wolf at times."You know I could hear you coming to me. I can hear the deer eating the grass and the river close by. I can hear so many things its unreal." I looked down at the wolf to see him looking at me with his head tilted. "Ever since I got this flu, strange things have been happening. I can hear better, I sweat a lot, I feel hot most the time and I've been having dreams. I know having dreams shouldn't be weird but their not normal." I looked across at the wolf, running a hand through the fur while I collected my thoughts. "I dream about wolves and running with them."
The black wolf was now sitting on his back legs watching me. Now that I look at him, he seems a lot larger than normal wolves, maybe something close to a bear.
I stood up too, brushing the dirt off my clothes. "Well I'm sure the baseball game has to be finished now, I'm going to head back." I gave the wolf one last pat before walking back to Billy's house, I turned around to have one more look at the beautiful wolf to see it was already gone.
When I came back to the house, everyone was sitting around the fire laughing, except for Sam. Billy, Charlie and Harry were walking out the back door talking about the baseball game. From what I can hear, our team won the game. Charlie was still talking so I thought I'd go back under the tree in the backyard until he was ready to leave for the night.
There was rustling sound coming from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw Sam walk out from the forest, he walked passed me flashing a small, sad smile. Sam went straight to Billy, Charlie and Harry - whatever they were talking about seemed serious. They kept giving me sideward glances. I heard parts of the conversations but most of it was too quiet for me to hear. I bit my lip and glance down at my novel, trying to ignore the sensation of eyes on me.
When I heard the older men's conversation turn to laughter, I took that as my chance to question Charlie. "Hey Uncle Charlie, can we head home now?" I was tired, I could feel the exhaustion sweeping through my bones.
"Yeah, come on Bells. Do you need help getting to the car?"
"I can walk." To prove my point, I got up and walked over to the older men and Sam.
"How have you been sleeping?" Harry through the question at me.
"Um... Fine." I wasn't about to tell them about my wolf dreams. "Bed, sounds good right now."
"Yes, yes, Home." Charlie muttered under his breath as he turned to the fire. "Bye everyone." There were replies of people yelling their farewell. We made our way to Charlie's police cruiser and I got into the front passenger side, leaning my head against the window.
We were almost home, reaching the point of crossover from la Push to Folks when I thought I saw my black wolf with his pack. Unfortunately I wasn't sure if I was dreaming or still wake at that time.
Revised: 29.01.2017
