A/N : As per Blackwater Crazzii's suggestion, I am trying to focus on continuing writing as I normally do, but making Jake and Leah speak as an 'average' person would. xD I'm glad for such pointers, because I tend to get so focused on writing that I sometimes forget what I'm actually doing, so I welcome all other constructive criticism. Thanks for the pointers and happy reading! xox
Our thoughts are idle as we head toward the Black residence, Jake's focus mainly fixating on his eagerness to see his father. I keep wondering if I am dreaming, expecting to awaken at any moment, but to my delight I do not. When the house comes into view I slow my pace slightly, letting Jake make his presence known first; I feel his father would prefer to see his son than me, whose face has been a familiar sight lately. I hear Jake chuckle slightly as he turns, his wolf gaze staring at me.
You don't have anything hidden nearby to change into, do you? I simply stare at him, thinking.
No, the clothes I had set aside for myself are a few miles up the woods, outside of my own house. I growl slightly. Well, I'll head up and get them and come back. I probably should just go home at this point, but something about Jake inviting me on his homecoming makes me want to stay. I suppose it is a mix of having missed my friend and feeling as though my company is appreciated.
Nah, don't. Lemme run in and grab you something and I'll set it out here. Just give me a sec. He vanishes. I remain in the bushes, watching as he phases into human form. Not thinking clearly, I do not think to look away as he emerges from the protection of the shrubs, extracting the clothing from the bundle he had bound to his ankle.
He's more beautiful than I remember… I glance away after a moment, realizing I had been gazing at him all the while, with no shame. I am glad he can no longer read my mind – how embarrassing that could have been. And to think, me calling Jake beautiful? What a pathetic show of me being weak and needy. Growling at myself I curl into a slight ball amongst the damp leaves, listening as he and his father enjoy a happy reunion. It is not before long that he returns, tossing a long tee shirt and a pair of boxer shorts into the bushes near to where I am resting.
He calls out to me, "Here you go Leah, join us when you're decent!" His tone is light-hearted, teasing. I chuckle deep in my throat before I phase, hidden by the bushes that surround me. I find the clothes and slip into them, paying no heed to my surroundings – obliviously unaware that he has paused for but a brief second on the porch, casting his gaze back to catch my bare back, turned to him, as I change. The shirt comes to my mid-thighs and the boxers are sagging slightly, but I let it go – easier than running home and returning. After casually running my right hand through my hair I enter the Black house and go over to give Billy a hug.
He beams. "My son has come home!" he declares, as though I have not heard the news. Jake rolls his eyes at me but smiles nonetheless. Billy continues to tell him, "Leah came to visit while you were gone, Jacob. All the time, she took good care of me, didn't you?"
I laugh. "I did the best I could, but you didn't leave me much to work with," I state accusingly at Jake, winking at Billy. "What a mess; this man does not understand dishes or laundry or cooking! How could you be so cold as to abandon him?" Jake looks at ease, however, amidst our jesting and he shrugs slightly.
"Guess it's 'bout time you learned pops," he tells Billy, Cheshire grin plastering itself to his features. "Then again, guess you didn't learn much if Leah was doing it all for you. There spoils my plans of having you wait on me now!"
Billy laughs boisterously, clearly elated at his son's return. "I'll wait on you, but you might not want to eat anything I cook. But Leah, here, she's a great cook; kept me in line. Might want her to coddle you instead, Jacob, she's turning out to be a fine lady. Shame for Sam," he begins, then realizing his folly a bit too late. He freezes, his mouth still gaping with his next proposed word, and I try not to let tears prick my eyes.
Reaching down, I pat his hand. "It's okay Billy," I say quietly, but I cannot speak another word. I fear my quavering voice might betray my emotions. "I'm glad you have Jacob back; I should probably get going home." The mood has suddenly dropped and I entirely blame myself. Why can't I just let go already? I move to the door, turning to glance over my shoulder at Jake, who looks both devastated and irked. "I'm glad you're home, tomorrow I'm gonna beat your ass for leaving," I state, breaking the mold of Billy's perfect lady description.
But he moves too, closer to me. "Dad, I'll walk Leah home and then when I get back we'll chat about life, I wanna hear all the latest news," he informs Billy before closing the gap between us entirely, opening the front door and motioning for me to lead the way.
Billy half-smiles, though I see sadness in his eyes. "Yup, sure thing. 'Night Leah and – um – sorry."
I force a cool laugh, "Don't be, Billy. It's fine. I prefer waiting on you to Sam anyway."
The lie lingers in the air then dies as Jacob closes the door behind us. The moment it swings closed, I feel the lump in my throat begin to rise and tears sting my eyes. He says nothing, merely taking ahold of my right arm with his hand, gently guiding me toward the path through the woods that leads me home.
We make it barely fifteen yards from the porch before I begin to sob.