I ran down the stairs, mercifully only stumbling near the bottom step. My mother raised her eyebrows at my sudden appearance in the kitchen, but wisely decided not to comment.
I, Isabella Swan, was not the most grateful person in the world, and I had long since come to terms with that fact. However, I did not need the humor or sympathy my balance problems produced at my expense. Reneé had lived with me long enough to know that I would only blush blood red if she brought up my near tumble.
I walked over to the refrigerator and stared into it blankly. I wasn't really hungry, but Reneé felt that I should at least try to eat breakfast in the mornings so I grabbed the carton of milk with the intent of preparing a bowl of cereal.
"Mom," I called. "Did you buy any more raison bran?" My mother was famous for her forgetfulness.
"Um . . . did you check the cabinet over the stove, dear?"
I pulled open said cabinet, shaking my head at Reneé's loopiness. As expected, the cereal was there, sandwiched in between seasonings and extra oven mitts.
"Found it, Mom. Thanks."
After finishing my unwanted food, I knew I couldn't put off my duty any longer. I washed my bowl and spoon, concentrating on the task as if it was of the utmost importance. With the dish and utensil dried and put away in their places, I retreated back upstairs. Reneé struggled to keep the smile off her face as she watched my determined march. I pretended not to notice. She believed that my behavior was caused by a determination not to fall.
The door of my bedroom was standing ajar, just as I'd left it. I took a deep breath before wrenching it open further and stepping inside.
My bedroom was one of only three doors on the second floor of the house I shared with Reneé. The other two were my mom's bedroom and the shared bathroom, respectively. It might have been small compared to some of the houses in our upscale community, located in Phoenix, Arizona, but it was home, and I loved it. Now, though, I'd rather be anywhere else.
The large wolf turned as I entered my room. Although I knew what had been awaiting me, I still drew in a noisy breath at the sight. The wolf's lips pulled back in a canine smile in response. I blushed.
"So," I began, trying to alleviate the awkward silence and my own embarrassment. "Why did you need to see me today?"
The enormous wolf rolled his eyes and gave me an unmistakable look. Of course, he couldn't use human speech in his current form. He would have to morph into his normal body to answer my question. I could see him prepare for the change.
"Wait," I said hurriedly. "Why don't you step into the bathroom first? I think there's still a pair of men's sweatpants in there from when my mom was sorting laundry." For once, I was thankful for Reneé's eccentricities. A werewolf only has control over his own body and can't remain clothed during the phase. I didn't need a naked man in my bedroom this early in the morning . . . or ever, for that matter. Things couldn't get much more awkward than that.
The wolf nodded, but I could see his amusement at my rapid offer. Despite how hard I fought against it, I blushed deeply for the second time that morning.
"If you want to," I added belatedly.
But the werewolf sprang forward, giving me just enough warning to cower out of his way. I saw too late that the door to the bathroom was shut firmly, and I shook myself out of my stunned stupor in time to turn the knob and step back.
There was only a few minutes' wait before a young man with deep russet skin and chin-length, straight black hair walked out of my bathroom, wearing a pair of my mom's sleepwear.
He smiled at my nervous expression before saying: "Come on; let's go back to your room."
I nodded jerkily. We both turned and crossed the short hall. When the man and I reached my doorway, he stepped back with a mocking half-bow and gestured for me to enter first. I raised my chin and did my best to stride gracefully into the room. However, needless to say, that didn't happen. I somehow managed to catch the toe of my tennis shoe on the doorjamb and begin my familiar and completely ungraceful fall forward.
When my face didn't make contact with the floor, I opened my eyes in surprise. Only then did I notice the overly warm hand wrapped around my upper arm and Jacob Black's close proximity to me.
I looked down, twitching my hair with one hand so that it flowed over my shoulder and hid my face from view.
"Thanks for that," I said, still staring intently at my flecked carpet.
"No problem," the man responded breezily as he guided me further into my room. "You seem to do it all the time." My head shot up at that.
"You only met me a couple weeks ago." I said argumentatively.
His smirk was much more obvious on a human's face.
"Yes, but you've managed to trip and fall on at least twenty times during them." He paused for a second. "And I've known your family for much longer."
I was confused.
"But Reneé's never met you, has she?"
He snorted in amusement.
"No. I was talking about your dad."
"My father," I repeated. My parents had divorced shortly after I was born and, aside from a few summer visits to his home in Washington, I'd never spent much time with my dad, Charlie.
"Yep, your daddy dearest." Jacob always seemed to use a condescending tone when he spoke to me, and I hated it. "He's part of why I'm here, by the way. I need you to do me a favor, and I need you to do it by going to live with Charlie."
"What do you need me to do?" I asked warily. I couldn't exactly refuse to help this werewolf in front of me; I owed him my life.
He smiled once again, as if he was enjoying a private joke.
"I need you to get close to a . . . certain creature for me."
"What-what kind of creature?"
"A vampire."