Chapter 2 - Stupid For Centuries

"YOU DID WHAT?"

Jake pulled the phone away from his ear as Quil snarled. Everyone in the pack could hear Quil yelling over the phone and couldn't stop from laughing. Jake smirked as he tried to keep his tone serious and unaffected.

"Quil…"

"Don't even think about it Black!"

"Quil…"

"Tell those assholes I can hear them laughing!" This just earned louder laughter from the guys as they all practically fell on the floor of Emily's kitchen laughing.

"QUIL!"

"What man? Just what?" Quil sounded completely defeated.

Jake frowned, "I'm sorry…One minute I was getting pissed off because Paul was screwing with me about Bella and the next Julie had invaded my thoughts, my brain, my…everything."

Quil groaned, "Ah man, I don't need to hear that she's my cousin dude."

Jake cringed, "Sorry bro. You're my best friend though. I thought you should hear it from me before you phased and found out. Not that that would be any better."

"I can't believe you imprinted on Julie."

Jake chuckled, "I'm still trying to figure out how you two are related, she's hot and you…well you're any ugly wolf bro.

Yup another round of laughter from the pack.

"Hyena laughing bastards." Quil growled. "Look if anyone was to imprint on her, I'd rather it be you or Embry. I don't think she could handle Paul's temper or Jared's stubbornness."

Jake couldn't help laugh, "Dude you do realize this is me were talking about. The guy who doesn't want to be Alpha let alone in a damn pack right? I have my own stubbornness issues and up until 2 hours ago I was in love with my best friend who just happens to be in love with a vampire. Which now we have the daunting task of trying to explain to your cousin, who is now my imprint."

Quil sighed heavily, "Just promise me, I won't have to kick your ass if she finds out about your true feelings for Bella."

Jake sighed heavily as he finally walked outside. Not that the seven pairs of wolf ears couldn't hear what was going to be said, but Jake knew he had to be serious about imprinting on Quil's cousin. Everyone knew how torturous is was for Jake to know that Bella had picked a bloodsucker over him and it was still killing him…But since he'd imprinted on Julie two hours ago it hurt a little less.

Suddenly he wasn't thinking about Bella though. He was thinking of Julie. He wanted to speak with Sam alone, but clearly that wouldn't be happening for a while. At least until he got rid of the rest of the hyena's as Quil so eloquently put it.

Jake came out of his mind bender and sighed heavily again for the fourth or fifth time during Quil's over the phone ass chewing. He noticed Quil had gotten quiet, "Quil what is it?"

Quil's harsh voice was softened, "Just don't hurt her Jake. I know I don't have to tell you of all people that. But I'm saying it as just a re-assurance to myself. She's excited about seeing you because she said you was going to tune up her car. Don't let her down."

Jake chuckled, "I wouldn't dream of it." Jake flipped his cell phone closed after he heard Quil hang up. He slipped his phone back in his pocket and watched as the pack walked past him chortling into the night air as they all took off into the trees to phase and finish patrol. Jake heard Sam's heavy footsteps as they walked up behind Jake.

"You want to talk about it?"

Jake leaned against the porch railing, "Please tell me I'm not dreaming Sam. Ever since the newborn fight when Victoria and Riley got away. Edward and Bella moved up their wedding date. I just felt that the best way to get over Bella was to just stay away from her. I've been missing her more and more lately. The closer the wedding is, the more I miss her. Then suddenly out of left field, I imprint. Naturally on some random stranger."

Sam exhaled, "Jacob, you sat by and watched as your pack members and even your closest friends imprint. You're the last in this pack to imprint, well aside from Seth and he really needs to chill out about that. I can't imagine if he imprinted at fifteen that that would go over smoothly with anyone."

Jake chuckled, "We really don't have control over this. I mean why did I have to make a fool out of myself for Bella? Tell her I'm in love with her, kiss her, give her a chance to have a normal human life and yet she still ended up choosing...Edward. Why couldn't I have met Julie before I made myself look stupid to Bella?"

Emily giggled as she walked out onto the porch, "Because you're a guy and guys have been making themselves look stupid for centuries. Jacob, You didn't imprint on Bella because she wasn't the one for you. Life works in mysterious ways if you haven't noticed. Sam and I are a testament to that. Plus Quil and Claire. Leah being the first and only female in the pack, plus her and Embry are the only two who imprinted on each other, maybe Embry's quiet and shy exterior is supposed to even out Leah's attitude. Paul imprinted on your sister, Jared imprinted on Kim a total stranger to him but he never knew just how much she loved him until he imprinted then he was forced to face the truth."

Emily walked over and touched Jake's hand, "Think of this as a challenge. Julie was brought to you quite possibly when you needed her the most. Think about it. Edward has been begging you to come to the wedding as a gift for Bella, if you took Julie then she would be your stabilizer. I know you don't treasure the idea of taking your newly found imprint into vampire territory, but she just might be what you'd been waiting for since you've been staying away from Bella. Taking her with you will keep you grounded. But you need to get to know her a little as well. Don't just tune up her car, ask her if she wants to help or sit and talk to you while you do it. And you tell Quil I said for him to leave you two alone or he'll have to deal with me."

Jake and Sam both chuckled knowing Emily meant what she said. She would make life very hard for Quil especially since he only saw Claire when she was at Emily's.

Jake nodded, "Thanks Sam and Emily." As he nodded at both of them and then took off to go home. When he got home his dad was still awake, Jake shot him a grin and decided for tonight he wanted to keep his imprinting to himself and not tell his dad.

Jake laid across his bed and started out the window. He could hear his brothers in the distance as they all howled. Maybe there was a reason he imprinted on Julie. Maybe she was his saving grace. Maybe she was there because the Quileute God's sais so damn it.

Whatever the reason. She couldn't have honestly come at a better time.

As Jake slipped into deep sleep the only person he had on his mind...Julie.