A/N: Please enjoy and leave a review. ^^
Metamorphosis
Chapter Two: Symphony
Another cluster of loud chatter broke out within the walls of the packed record store. More and more groups of obnoxious teenagers piling in as though they were cattle, or believed the shop would run away if they didn't stuff themselves inside. Of course they were neither cattle nor believed such a thing, and yet they were still just as obnoxious. Yelling, laughing, and shoving one another before three or four more would join them.
'Again?'
Coco brown hues closed for a moment as to sync with their owner's silent grumble. Said owner reopening them before reaching towards the volume control knob on his headphones. The sound of a bass and a piano growing louder within his mind though still not enough to drown out the crowd. Unable to silence their random rambles, quiet their excitement over petty things, or tune out the annoying cell phone chats. No, the volume had reached its maximum after three previous attempts to shut the world off and had sadly failed.
'Why did it have to be here? I should've just invited that leech to a café or something like I planned.'
Hesitantly, the wolf skimmed over the computer's option list for the fourth time. His bored eyes rereading each and every song the trial period collection had to offer. "News Today", "Girlfriend", "Monsters", "Symphony". Nothing he hadn't already tried to listen to and didn't understand the point of doing it again. The teenager knew it'd be futile against the same prattle as before and that it still wouldn't take his mind away from the jam-packed store. Hell, it wouldn't even be enough to distract him from the reason he was forced to stand there feeling anxious.
'Damn him...'
A sudden pain shot through his mind as he rubbed his swollen eyes. The sharp stinging slowly draining as the muscles relaxed into his touch. A sigh of bittersweet relief elapsing when he chose to remember how he found himself in this wasteful predicament. Bella's indecisiveness, his anger, Edward's feeling of "owing" him, his cautious text of asking the vampire to hang out with him, and the annoyance of having to move the date here due to the bloodsucker's inability to eat.
Well, maybe moving their meeting hadn't been a complete inconvenience. After all it gave the wolf an upper hand of a sort. During the summer days when both himself and the human worked together there hadn't been much music. Just endless conversations between them as a result of her distaste for anything involving the vampire. Any tunes now were not only pleasant but maybe, maybe they would guilt-trip the hundred-some-odd male into depression.
'Yeah right.'
An inward growl was released into his thoughts when his arms were lifted for a comfortable stretch. The boy instinctively turning his attention to the strangely uncrowded entrance when his senses caught wind of a familiar smell. And, as though it were on cue, in came the pale faced, orange eyed Cullen.
"Hmm..."
The tan boy snorted as his nose was now filled with the smell of grave soil and wilted roses. Not to mention the overwhelming scent of female pheromones caused by the elder male's presence. His presence that appeared to be charming, attractive, and approachable until an individual would attempt to speak with him. Then all that would be felt would be rejection, cautiousness, and a sense of danger. Instinctive human behavior.
"Hey." The wolf nearly bit his tongue as he removed the blaring headphones. His rival giving a simple nod when stopping before him. His pale hands soon finding their way into his pants' pockets.
"I...We...Well, it's..." Jacob's trembling voice cut itself off as the boy struggled to hold back his want to growl. His mind going back and forth over what he needed to choke out.
'We got off on the wrong foot? Hey, what's up? No.'
"..."
Slowly, the "creature of the night" bent down. One of his slender hands emerging from his pocket to take a CD from its holder. His glistening eyes examining the back with slight interest.
"How's the instrumental piece?" He glanced at the shorter male.
"Ok?"
"We did "get off on the wrong foot"...I wouldn't mind a fresh start."
Jacob snarled, "Stay out of my head, Lee-."
"I was only trying to help you be less nervous. I don't plan on doing it again."
Orange and brown momentarily collided. The duo staring down one another as though they were mentally and hesitantly shaking hands. Hesitantly or rather unwillingly.
Coffee colors blinked away as to shatter the meeting. Their owner clenching his already tight fist within his jacket.
"Did Bella make you come?"
"No, she doesn't even know about this. I don't want her to be stressed or scared that we'll fight." He slowly turned to walk around the other side of the CD racks. "I thought it'd be a nice surprise for her if I were to tell her that her best friend and I were getting along."
'"Best friend"?'
Sluggishly, the younger boy followed after his adversary. His eyes narrowing at the vampire's back before sliding down to blink at the case Edward held.
"Bach? Don't you like anything new?" Jacob cocked an eyebrow.
"Some, " he turned to face the wolf, "but I guess you could say I prefer "old"...Helps relax you when you can't sleep." A slight smile grabbed the end of his dark lips.
"Oh...Here."
Weary caramel hues watched the tanned boy closely. Carefully watching his fluid movements as he selected an unknown song from the bright screen before preceding to adjust a pair of headphones to the vampire's ears. Said golden eyes suddenly widening as a horrid pop song was blasted through the headset and into his unsuspecting mind.
'What is this?'
Edward's tired eyes watched as the muted wolf smirked. His own mouth holding back a smile as he began to bob his head to the rhythm of the beat. The smile immediately breaking out when his companion ripped the headphones from his ears.
"Wh-What're you doing?" He laughed.
"Teasing you." His grin twisted into his usual blank expression along with his serious tone. "Bella...She told me about all the times your father would tease you."
Jacob snorted, "Did she also mention that I'm going to take him to the top of a hill and let the wheelchair go?"
A low chuckle slowly began to grow into a calm laugh from both males. The duo exchanging uncertain glances before looking back down to the music selection.
"Jacob...?"
The vampire instantly stopped himself when an ear-shattering scream suddenly echoed through the shop. An ear-splitting scream that halted the sales workers, quieted the music demos, and even silenced the obnoxious teens that still filled the store.
"Damn it! Son of a bitch!"
Both canine and bloodsucker took a sigh of relief when coming to the realization that the cry hadn't been caused by them. Instead of it being a shriek due to a thirsty trio of vampires, or a scream of terror over spotting an over-sized wolf, it was over a simple paper cut.
"She's acting like she'll bleed out or something." Jacob laughed to himself before returning his attention to the opposite man. His deep eyes instantly growing when noticing the pale face's own glistening globes.
'Shit!'
"No." A growl erupted from the younger man's throat as he took a firm hold onto the vamp's wrist. His eyes shifting back and forth between Edward and the injured girl.
"..."
Reluctantly, the so-called leech flipped his undivided attention back to his captor. His shimmering eyes blinking away the hints of lust before he cleared his throat.
"I'm ok...I can control it." Sunset shaded colors narrowed towards Jacob before examining the firm grip around his wrist. "You're warm?"
A hushed sigh escaped, "It's a wolf...It's a Jacob thing."
"A Jacob thing?"
"It's what she calls it." He attempted to hide his obvious blush.
"She has the right to. I've never met anyone as quite as warm as you."
Again, the two opponents found themselves locking matching stares. Orange crashing into brown with a sense of curiosity, unsureness, and what could have been read as concern. As for the chocolate pallette (which gazed into the glowing pools) it was slightly different. In place of curiosity there was a presence of calm wonderment. Unsureness was replaced with an understanding of why others would find themselves trapped in Edward's firm stare. And concern exchanged for something foreign to the sixteen-year-old.
"It's..." The elder man broke their lock when looking towards the ground. His figure trembling with anxiousness.
"The smell of her blood is a little too much..."
A stronger hold overpowered Jacob's hand as he snapped from his own gaze. His once secure grasp on the vampire's wrist suddenly going limp when the older man dominated his captor. Hurriedly pulling him as he rushed towards the exit.
"Lets go somewhere else for now." He shook the yearning from his mind.
"..."
Earth painted lips found themselves unable to decline or rebuttal against their enemy's wishes. Instead they remained quiet and allowed their possessor to climb into his thoughts as he was led away from the blood-scented air. His mind and body struggling between the common feeling of wanting to change, and the abnormal knowing that it wasn't a physical transformation. Yes, his heart raced as though his human form would surely break into his natural wolf stature... and yet had no urge to do so.
'I'm really gonna need some Bach to sleep tonight.'
A/N: Sorry for the mistakes. I'm tired.