-8-

"Hey Billy, is Jacob there?" I asked excited.

"Yeah, I'll get him."

He came to the phone quickly. "Nessie, what is it,

Billy said you sounded excited about something."

"I am excited; mom and dad told me the greatest news, I can go to school Jake!"

"That's great Ness; where are they sending you?"

"That's the best part; they're enrolling me in the Quileute high school!"

"You're kidding! I can't believe it…"

"It's true! I couldn't believe it myself at first,

but they're telling the truth, I know it." I said fervently.

"Well, that's awesome; I can't wait to have you here!"

I blushed, but didn't understand why; my maturity must be tied to all aspects of my life, emotional as well as physical.

But that still didn't explain why I felt this way. Jacob's always been there for me, but as my protector, my best friend.

Suddenly, I felt a whole new range of emotions, or was it only one emotion, so intense, that it felt like many.

I understood love like I felt for my parents; pure, and thankful.

This love I felt for Jacob, felt pure too, but I also felt need entangled with it,

a need to always be at his side.

"Ok, well... that's my big news; I have to go now Jake, I'll talk to you later ok?" I said, hurrying to get off the phone.

"Ok, talk to you later."

I hung up with him and went to my room.

-9-

I felt too embarrassed to talk with my mother about it,

so I decided to talk with my aunts instead.

But knowing that Aunt Rose and Jake weren't on the best terms;

I went straight to Aunt Alice.

"What is it Nessie, you look sick, are you ok?" she asked me.

I felt sick, but in a good way, like butterflies were fluttering in my stomach.

"I need to tell you something, Aunt Alice" I said, looking at my hands.

She frowned. "What's wrong Nessie?"

"Nothing's wrong, I just… I think I'm in love." I said in a hushed voice.

"What, with who?" she asked in a tone that confused me.

I thought she'd be worried or concerned, but she sounded strangely… curious?

"Um…" I said and took a deep breath. "Jacob."

She gasped, and then I knew I'd made a mistake.

"Nessie, I can't say that I knew this would happen, but I did have a feeling. You and Jake have been inseparable from the very beginning;

did you talk with your mom about it?"

"No. I don't know how to tell her, or dad… Help me tell them Aunt Alice, please?"

I begged her.

She smiled; she was happy to be in on a secret. "Sure, I'll help… Wait!"

"What?"

-10-

"Does Jacob know, have you told him?" she asked excited.

"No, he doesn't know, and I don't think I'll tell him." I replied with sudden sadness.

"Why not?", she asked warily.

"Because… he's not interested in me, I'm like a sister to him." I told her, and it surprised me how much it affected me; there were tears in my eyes now.

She hesitated and then said "Nessie, you need to know something,

Have you ever heard of imprinting?"

"Yes. I heard mom say once that Jake told her it was like love at first sight.

But what does that have to do with anything?" I asked, wiping the tears away

with the back of my hand.

"Well, when you were a baby… Jake imprinted on you."

I gasped and then fell silent; I didn't know what to say.

"Nessie, are you ok? Maybe I shouldn't have told you…"

"No, thank you for telling me"

I was in shock. Jake imprinted on me?!

I wanted an explanation about this, and I was going to get it from him.

I decided to go to his house and talk to him.