Chapter One
"You're imprinting Jacob"
Jacob winced as Sam's voice filled his head. He hated having the whole pack in there at all times. A guy couldn't even take a poop without the whole world knowing about it, at least the entire werewolf world. "No, I'm not Sam."
"Y-you…were…the…the…big dog!" She stuttered.
Jacob scooted back from her, not wanting to frighten her any more than she already was. She was trembling in her white sweater and skinny jeans and it was sweltering outside. "Wolf," He corrected, "yes, that was me." He saw her terrified look and tried to make her feel better. "I'm not going to hurt you, I'm the good guy."
The girl sniffled and then nodded. She crawled a little closer to him. "What is your name?" She asked timidly.
Jacob had a strong urge to kiss away those tears. "My name is Jacob, honey. What's yours?"
The girl sniffled. "Ellabeth, but I go by Ella."
'This must be hell. If it smells like Bella, sounds like Bella and looks like Bella, what is it? A tinier cuter person named Ella!' Jacob thought to himself.
"What's your full name, honey?" He asked his voice still gentle.
Ella looked at the ground. "Ellabeth Evalynn Swan." She said. "I'm looking for my daddy."
Jacob gaped at her. "Is his name…Charlie?"
Ella nodded. "M…my mother died and on the birth certificate…it said that Charlie…is my daddy…and…and…a-and…I…" She burst into tears.
Jacob didn't know what else to do. So he took her into his arm, cupping the back of her head with his hand so that she could cry into his shoulder. "Shh, shh, its ok." He tried to console her.
"I don't have anyone left!" She sobbed into his chest. "My grandparents have been long gone; my mom didn't have any brothers or sisters. I don't have any cousins, aunts or uncles! I haven't got a house. Daddy is my only chance!"
Jacob stood up, bringing her with. "I know your dad. I can take you there." He said. He tilted her chin up. "And…you have me."
Jacob's words surprised himself. It was as if suddenly Bella leaving didn't even hurt anymore. Ella was suddenly the only thing that mattered anymore. In those few minutes after he'd saved her…he was suddenly in love? This wasn't even puppy love. No, it was head over heels, rolling down a hill into a field of daisies as fast as a shooting star over the moon past a comet surging through light years, quick as sound love. Jacob was in it deep.
And he only knew her name.
"I told you, Jacob, you're imprinting." Sam.
"Dude, sweet, that makes four of us!"Jerod.
"I'm not imprinting." Jacob responded firmly.
"Yes you are!" Quil's voice entered Jacob's head.
"Would you guys-" Jacob was cut off…in his own head.
"Jacob and some girl sitting in a tree." Quil sang.
"K-I-S-S" Embry continued.
"Stop it." Jacob warned threateningly.
"I-N-P" Quil finished.
Everything was quiet in Jacob's head for awhile and then the calm serenity was shattered by Embry's voice.
"Quil, dude, its I-N-G…"
"Oh …I'm never good at spelling." Quil responded
"Doesn't matter, I believe the topic we started was Jacob's imprint not Quil's spelling." Jerod.
"Who's imprinting?" Seth decided to join the conversation in Jacob's head.
"No one." Jacob responded quickly.
"Jacob." Everyone else responded.
"Are you serious? We won't have to hear about Bella any more?" Grrrreeeeat, now Leah was involved.
"Listen, this is none of your business. I'm n-" Jacob was getting really annoyed now.
"So, who is this lucky gal?" Paul asked.
Jacob rubbed his forehead. 'Great, the whole pack is in my head.' He knew they'd hear that thought, but he didn't care.
"Jaco-ob!" Quil whined.
"WHAT?!" Jacob snapped on the edge of insanity.
That didn't seem to faze the rest of the pack. By all means, driving him insane would improve his fighting skills.
"Tell us! You know we will just find out when you think about her!" Quil pleaded.
"Jake, you're not being fair." Seth, the little fur ball, whined as well.
"Jacob, please?" Paul begged.
"NO ONE, BECAUSE I'M NOT IMPRINTING!" Jacob yelled.
Ella jumped next to him. "What?" she asked timidly.
"I…uh…tourettes." He muttered. He led her to his dad's truck, thoroughly embarrassed now. "Do you have any bags, any clothing?"
Ella shook her head. "I had to sell a lot to have enough money for my airplane ticket, cab money and food money." She hung her head. "All I have is what I'm wearing right now and a few things in my backpack."
Jacob wanted so badly to see her smile. It would make his day. "Hey, it'll be alright. Charlie is a good guy and a great dad." He said squeezing her hand gently.
Ella smiled weakly. Jacob sighed. "Did I do something wrong?" She asked looking up at him confused.
Jacob smiled the smile that Bella had always loved. "You can give me a much better smile than that can't you?" He teased.
"No." She said sadly.
Jacob felt that tug on his heart again. He wanted her to be happy. He poked her side. She jumped with a little squeak. "You're not ticklish are you?" He said beginning to tickle her sides.
She giggled. "No…yes…maybe…" she giggled harder. "Ok, ok, yes I am!"
Jacob caught her chin so that he could see her smile better. "That's much better." He said grinning Bella's favorite smile. He brushed his fingertips gently across Ella's cheek and decided that his smile would no longer be Bella's smile. It now belonged to Ella. "Now, come on, I'll get the keys and call Charlie."
He began to move but Ella caught his sleeve. Jacob looked at her. "What's wrong, Ella?"
"oh, so her name is Ellllaaaa." Quil interrupted, inside Jacob's head.
"Shut up." Jacob shot back at him.
"What if Charlie doesn't want me?" Ella asked quietly.
Jacob took her tiny hand in his. "Ella, Charlie's other daughter left him about three years ago and hasn't called him since. You might take his loneliness away. He hasn't lost a daughter, he gained one. I'm sure he'll love you."
Ella nodded. "Should I wait by the car?"
"Don't you want to meet my dad?" Jacob said smiling Ella's smile. "He doesn't bite."
Ella shook her head. "I want to wait by the car."
Jacob rolled his eyes. "Then I'll bring him to you. DAD!"
"What's wrong, Jake?" A voice from inside the house asked anxiously.
"Could you bring me the phone?"
Billy rolled out the doorway with the phone in his lap muttering something about 'lazy kids'. He froze when he saw Ella. Billy narrowed his eyes in bewilderment. "Who is this beautiful girl?"
"Her name is Ellabeth, Ellabeth Swan, dad." Jacob said slowly. "Charlie's daughter."
Billy looked like he was fighting with himself in his mind. "Ellabeth, sweetheart, what was your mother's last name?" He asked.
"Sherwyn." Ella answered quietly.
Billy went back to his contemplating stare. He then suddenly snapped his fingers. "Anna Sherwyn?"
"That'd be my mom." Ella said smiling weakly.
"Well, gee…wow." Billy said. "That was one of Charlie's girlfriends after he broke up with Renée. I haven't seen her for-"
"Fifteen years?" Ella prompted. Billy nodded. "That's how old I am."
"How is Anna?" Billy asked, oblivious to why Ella's eyes filled with tears.
"She's dead."
"Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry." Billy said, his face falling. "I'm guessing Charlie didn't know about you."
Ella glared at the ground. "If he did, he had a stupid way of showing it. No presents at Christmas, no letters, no money that would've paid for Mom's chemo just a little longer." She was in tears again.
Jacob wrapped her in his arms. "Dad!" He mouthed scolding.
Billy eyed him and Ella with curious eyes. He then smiled and mouthed back, "You're imprinting."
Jacob shook his head furiously. "Shh, don't cry." He soothed her with his voice.
Billy picked up the phone. "I'll call Charlie and inform him. I think he should be the one to pick her up." He began dialing and went back inside.
Jacob rubbed Ella's back in slow circles. "It's ok." He promised.
Charlie's House
Charlie's phone rang and he quickly got up, hoping it was Bella. It had been too long since she'd called. Three years, actually. Charlie picked up the phone. "Hey baby!" He said sweetly.
"Hi sweetheart!" Billy responded sarcastically.
Charlie's face fell but he kept his tone light. "Hey Billy, what's up?" He said uninterestedly.
"Don't sound so excited Charlie." Billy was the master of sarcasm today. "Do you remember Anna Sherwyn?"
"Yes, I dated her awhile after Renee divorced me." Charlie said sifting through memories.
"She had a baby, Charlie." Billy said slowly and somewhat sternly.
"Well, good for her! Who was the lucky guy?" Charlie said, oblivious to where this was going.
Billy sighed. "Anna's daughter isn't a baby anymore Charlie, she's fifteen." He said. "How long ago did you last see Anna?"
"Come to think of it….about fifteen years."
"It's your baby."
Charlie rubbed his head, feeling tears well up in his eyes. "I didn't know!" He claimed quickly. "How is Anna? Last time I saw her, she had leukemia."
"She's gone, Charlie." Billy said. "She passed away and I have your daughter at my house."
The tears came rolling in. "if I had know, I would've been there. I didn't know!" he said. "Please tell my daughter that I'm coming."
Charlie hung up the phone and grabbed the keys.
La Push, Jacob's House
Jacob watched Ellabeth as if scared she'd break into pieces right in front of him. He didn't like seeing her sad. She sat on the opposite end of the couch staring numbly ahead of her.
"It's time for the game show 'Are you Imprinting?' starring Jacob Black." Embry's voice entered Jacob's head.
Jacob rolled his eyes. "Jacob doesn't want to play because HE'S NOT IMPRINTING!"
"Ow, my ears are ringing."
"Good, you deserved it."
A knock came at the door. Jacob gave Ella's shoulder a gentle squeeze before getting the door.
A disheveled Charlie was at the door. He pushed past Jacob to get inside. His eyes immediately fell on Ella. "Is this her?"
Billy nodded. "Her name is Ellabeth Evalynn Swan." Billy said. "She goes by Ella."
Charlie walked slowly towards Ella. "Ella, baby, if I had known, I would've been there!" He hugged her. "I'm sorry, so sorry about your mother, about me not being there, about everything."
Slowly, to Charlie's surprise, Ella hugged him back. "I'm not angry, you are all I have left now."
"I will take good care of you." Charlie said. "We live in Forks. Its not too far from here."
To Jacob's surprise and delight, Ella's piercing blue eyes sought his. "But, Jacob…"
"I'm not far away, Ella." He said smiling. "You can come and visit anytime."
Well, that was chapter one. I was surprised when I saw I had two reviews! Thank you so much for reading my story! Reviews are always appreciated. Chapter two will be up as soon as possible!