Chapter II: Ok Go
With a large thud, the front door swung open and three figures stood in the door frame. I flinched in fright. It was too early for all that ruckus. They all clamored in loudly, yelling about some fight they'd been in. I became very nervous, partly because none of them were wearing shirts, and the fact that Emily wasn't present to regulate their apparently erratic behavior.
"You jack ass! Maybe next time I should just break it! Maybe then you'll shut up." one of them jeered.
"Haha! Not likely. Last time you just looked stupid trying that. Do it! I enjoy the entertainment." The other bellowed back.
"Hey!" Jacob bellowed to get their attention. "You guys, This is Emmy. Emmy this is Quill and Embry. They're both idiots, so I don't know how helpful they'll be." Jeered Jacob.
Embry shot an evil look at Jacob, while Quill chuckled at his feet with a 'just you wait' expression on his face. Jacob continued looking ireful.
"Emmy is going to conducting research for a little while." He said kind of through his teeth.
Embry and Quill jumped into their seats, grabbed a cranberry muffin and shoved each bite in like dogs devouring raw meat.
"What's up with that? What were you think-" started Embry.
"You should ask Billy, because I didn't make the call. He did." Jacob shot back. There was an awkward silence, and for a moment no one touched their food.
"We're being rude, Quill! It's nice to meet you. Welcome to the Black tribe!"
"Yeah, we don't get pretty girls around here often. So, I guess you being here isn't THAT bad." Flirted Quill. Jacob rolled his eyes.
"That's such good news! It'll make it so much harder when I reject you in front of everyone." I replied sarcastically. Jacob let out a chuckle. It was the first time I'd ever heard him laugh not sarcastically.
"I like this girl." Embry said while shooting me a flirtatious look.
I just gave him an apathetic look. I was so put off by their immaturity, but I was starting to blush. I have a certain attraction to Native American men, and it was starting to show. I tried to fight it off by appearing angry, but I don't think it was effective, because Quill gave Embry a low fist bump.
"Where are Seth and Leah?" asked Embry.
"You know where they are." Jacob replied. "Where they always are."
Quill turned to me. "They've become kind of distant lately. They're kind of like the tribe's outsiders."
Suddenly, the environment turned severe. Embry stopped eating for a moment and Jacob slowly lowered his forkful of eggs.
Quill laughed uncomfortably. "We all are kind of outsiders."
"How so?" I asked.
"Well, we used to be part of a bigger tribe, but we recently split up." Embry chimed in. Jacob shot him an evil look.
"What!? She's gonna find out anyway!" Embry bellowed.
"Ugh. Emmy." Jacob huffed while rising to his feet. "We should go find Seth and Leah." He sighed.
"Oh, joy. There's no telling the mood she'll be in." warned Quill.
Emily finally walked into the room. She took one look at the table and scoffed. "Typical. Didn't leave any for the rest of us did you, boys?" She sighed. "That's okay! I'll make some more as usual." She then saw Jacob and I by the door and looked puzzled. "Where's Renesmee, Jacob?" At first I thought she may have been teasing him, but she was genuinely concerned that Renesmee was not by his side.
"Away with Charlie for a few days." Jacob almost seemed to grimace in pain as he replied. "I promised Bella that I wouldn't-" Jacob stopped dead in the middle of his sentence. I could see his eyes dart towards me.
"Okay, well be careful." said Emily.
I grabbed my jacket by the door and rushed out to catch up with Jacob. As we walked out into the frigid cold, I realized how quiet I'd been since arriving. Usually, I'm pretty engaging and personable. It helps me understand people better and what I can do to help them. By now, I would have created my own plan for how to I conduct my study and then spend the next few weeks being as productive as I could. But I couldn't help but feel helpless- like I wasn't calling the shots anymore. I realized that I needed to conduct this study a little bit differently. It may be beneficial just to sit and observe. The tribe doesn't seem to like answering all sorts of questions.
Jacob led me straight into the dense forest. The trees were as tall as sky scrapers and a light fog rested over the dense fauna on the forest floor. The dewy air made my breath seem lighter. The sun pierced through the canopy of trees in spotty areas, creating an almost sacred atmosphere. I took a deep breath. The forest has always been my home, because it is here where I truly find rest. Me and Jacob's footsteps created a crackling sound as we tread upon twigs, breaking them as we walked. I enjoyed the silence, but part of me was itching to ask Jacob all the questions I had.
"Quill is right." Jacob said quietly as we tread through the dense forest.
I kept silent. It sounded like he was getting ready to confide in me.
"I don't know why my father would allow you to come." He paused for a moment. "We have everything to lose and you have everything to gain from us."
"What-"
Jacob stopped turned to me ferociously. His intense glare burned a hole straight through my heart. I began to realize the extent of his disdain for me. My stomach sank and my heart began to thud rapidly. My heart broke and I stood shocked. I felt helpless.
"We're not normal! We're not like the other tribes you studied! You need to know that." He said through his teeth.
"I don't understand. What do you mean?" I asked frightened. My voice shook a little.
"Nothing. Doesn't matter. In three weeks, you'll be gone and we won't have to deal with you then." Scoffed Jacob as he continued to walk.
"Listen! I didn't come her to exploit you! I came to help you!" I yelled.
Jacob turned to me and grimaced. Then he calmed and looked down at his feet. His hot tempered demeanor slowly calmed. It was as if he didn't know what was happening to his own body. He looked at me confused and angry. Renesmee gave me a similar look back at Emily's place. I took a step back.
"Jacob, are- are you okay?" I asked carefully.
"Let's go." he murmured.
As we continued, I noticed a clearing. I breathed in deeply. Fresh water. We stepped into the clearing and saw a beautiful lake. In the distance straight ahead, I could see two figures. One of them stood motionless staring into the water, the other sat on the bank a few feet away. Jacob and I slowly walked towards them.
"Leah!" Jacob called out.
Leah turned around angrily and looked at me with a look of pure disdain. Her eyes trailed from my feet to the top of my head. She had shoulder length black, stringy hair, her skin was a golden tan. She wore an olive tank top that was ripped, torn and over worn, and knee length ripped jean shorts. By her expression, I could tell that she'd made up her mind about me.
"Leah, this is Emmy Locklear. Emmy, Leah Clearwater."
I smiled uneasily at her. I didn't bother with pleasantries. She seemed more short tempered than Jacob. If that's possible. The breeze blew her hair into her face, but she maintained an intense stare.
"Glad that you're getting along." Said Jacob sarcastically. "Seth!" called Jacob.
Without turning to face Jacob, Seth got up slowly and walked towards us. I kept my eyes on my feet, so to avoid Leah's death stare. When Seth stood side by side with Leah, I looked up at him smiling. His long dark brown hair fell delicately to either side of his broad shoulders. Hi muscular frame seemed to compliment his cute innocent looking face. His deep brown eyes, long hair and captivating smile had me lost for words for the first time. He was sort of beautiful.
"Seth, this is Emmy Locklear. Seth-"
Seth did not speak, he did not move. He became motionless like stone. His eyes grew wide like he was witnessing the descent of an angel. His eyes sparkled in the glimmer of the sunlight. He looked in awe of me. I stood motionless and afraid. Jacob's eyes grew wide and his mouth agape. Leah's expression became one of astonishment. I could hear the slight chiming of bells in the distance. Suddenly, Seth dropped to his knees.