-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.
