I was finishing my lunch when Jake's snoring stopped but it wasn't until I had done the dishes that he appeared wearing shorts and a t-shirt.
"Morning Janine." He grinned.
"More like afternoon Bud. What's with the clothes?"
"I'm really warm." He shrugged making a bee line for the fridge. I didn't comment on the fact that it was about 40 degrees out; maybe he'd had a bad dream and sweated a lot in bed. I also didn't bother screaming at him for drinking out of the carton because I knew he'd be finishing the whole thing anyways. Teenage boys are bottomless pits! He went from there to the cereal cupboard and I got him a bowl and spoon.
"So, what are you doing today?"
"I'm going to see a movie with Bella and Michael Newton tonight." There was obvious distaste in his voice when he spoke of Mike and I could only assume that it was because he saw him as competition for Bella's affection. There couldn't be another reason; Mike was a pretty nice guy.
"But we promised Quil that we'd go to his house and play X-Box."
"Yeah and I'll still go, I'll just leave a little earlier." He shrugged like it was just that simple. Thing is, it wasn't that simple anymore, not since Embry became a disciple. We were all upset but Quil was definitely hurting the most. After all, it was he who'd had Embry tell him in a not so kind way that he didn't want us around anymore.
"Can't you cancel Bella?" I asked hopefully but I knew the answer would be no. Jake would rather lose a limb than have to sacrifice time with Bella.
"Why would I do that?"
"Quil needs you Jake. Embry's deserted him and now you're doing the same thing to him just for a girl you don't have a shot with. I need you Jake."
"Bella's one of my best friends." He stated blankly like it was the answer to everything. "She needs me too."
"I know Jake but she's healing now, Quil needs you more. Jesus Christ Jacob!" I exclaimed, starting to lose patience and unleash months of irritation. "You gave out about Embry. You were hurt by him. You said he was a backstabbing, two faced, abandoning traitor and now you're doing the same thing! You're all that as well as a hypocrite!" I could see he was getting angry and a horrible part of me was glad to evoke negative emotions in him.
"You can come with us if it'll stop you being so bitchy!"
"Just shut the hell up and go on your own! It's obvious that you don't care about anything but Bella anymore! It's pathetic Jacob."
Jake began to shake at my words and I took no notice until the tremors got so strong and quick that he was no longer shaking but vibrating. The tension was building and I was about to ask him if he was okay when there was a burst of movement. Expecting him to rugby tackle me, I hopped up on the counter top, curled into a ball and closed my eyes. There was a lot of noise, like wood breaking. When I opened my eyes, there was cereal and milk all over the place along with the remains of our kitchen table and chairs. In the centre of the debris stood a horse sized russet wolf. I just stared at it for a few long moments and it stared back at me looking frightened. This couldn't be a prank; Jake just wasn't smart enough for something of this magnitude.
"J-Jake?" I squeaked with a tremor in my voice. The wolf pricked its ears and whined. "The legends." I muttered. "They must be true. Can you hear voices in your head Jake?" The large head shook from left to right. No. I was starting to feel a little less stupid talking to the large animal now seeing as it was responding to me. "Don't panic, I'll ring the Clearwaters' and talk to Dad, they mightn't have left to go fishing just yet."
I picked up the phone and dialled. It was answered after about two rings.
"Hello?"
"Hey Seth, its Janine. Have they left to go fishing yet?"
"Nope, I'll get Billy."
There was a long pause and I glanced back at Jake.
"Janine? Is everything okay?"
"Jake just turned into a wolf."
"Oh." He said, sounding neither surprised nor upset. "Sam Uley had something like that a little while back."
"Charlie?" I asked.
"Yeah, that's it. You should give Emily young a call. Her number is in my address book. Don't panic though, he'll be fine."
"Okay, see you later Dad. Don't fall in." I joked.
"I won't fall, I'll jump. See you later Jan."
The address book was left right next to the phone. I was much calmer as I picked it up and opened up the Y page. Emily's was the only number on there. She answered the phone with a very cheery voice.
"Hi Emily, this is Janine Black, Billy's daughter. Is Sam there?"
"Yup, I'll get him now."
"Hullo." Came Sam's deep voice.
"Hi Sam, its Janine Black. Uhm. . . my brother kind of exploded and Dad said you were the guy to call."
He burst out laughing at my description of things and I could still hear a smile in his voice when he spoke again. "Where is he?"
"In our kitchen." At this, Sam sobered instantly.
"Are you okay Janine?" His voice was frantic.
"Me? Yeah, I'm fine." Gosh, Jake was the one that had changed species!
"Okay." He said sounding relieved. "I'm on my way."
The line went dead and I turned towards Jake unable to find anything to say.
After what seemed like an age of staring at the giant wolf in my kitchen, there was a knock on our back door. I opened it to Sam, Jared Cameron, Paul Lahote and Embry. I greeted the first three politely and hugged the last. He lifted me off the ground and twirled me around, something that he had never been able to do before. All of that, and piggyback duty, was Quil's
"Long time no speak ass hole." I grinned when he set me down on my feet.
"Miss me?" He grinned back.
"Like a hole in the head."
"You might like to go somewhere and let us deal with Jake." He told me quietly, looking kind of worried.
"That's okay, I've got to do the groceries but I have to ask why."
"Because he's gonna be naked when he phases back and we're going to have to tell him some stuff that he won't want to hear. Don't worry, you'll find out. Oh, buy tonnes of food; he's going to eat way more."
"Awesome." I said flatly taking the keys for the civic I bought from Rebecca out of the key bowl. "It's not like he wasn't a hoover before. See ya later bro. Glad you're back."
"Me too. See ya later" He grinned.
When I returned from the supermarket it was lashing rain so I decided to leave the groceries in the car and go inside to wait for the rain to ease off a little. I was nearing the door when it was flung open as Jake burst through and right past me.
"Who pissed in his coco pops?" I asked the other four wolves. Paul and Jared laughed – especially Paul who had a hilarious laugh- but Sam and Embry remained solemn.
"Sam's just told him that he can't see Bella anymore." Embry answered quietly.
"Oh." I winced. Embry didn't need to say anything his pained expression let me know that he understood how serious that was for Jacob.
I turned to follow my brother as he disappeared into the woods but a very large and hot hand grasped my wrist and spun me around to face Paul.
"I don't think that's a good idea. He told me looking and sounding so serious and concerned that I almost wasn't pissed off. Almost: I had little time for cocky, domineering young men such as Lahote.
"Well I do." I answered. I yanked my hand back but Paul just moved his with it. His eyes bored into mine and I couldn't read them, normally I was very good at assessing people's motives and emotions through their eyes.
"Let me go." I ordered.
"Paul." Sam said calmly. "Let her go."
Paul gnawed his lip still staring at me. He seemed not to hear Sam. "You have to promise me that if Jake gets upset, you'll get out of his way. If you don't you could get seriously hurt. You were lucky this morning."
"Alright, I'll get out of the way."
"Promise?" Was this guy for real? Why would I promise him my safety?
"Yeah," I answered hurriedly, deciding it was easier just to agree with a guy as tempermental as Lahote. "I promise." He slowly released his grip and I tore off into the woods.
This is my first fic I'd really appreciate it if you'd let me know what you think.