Disclaimer:The Twilight Saga and all characters therein belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter Two: Sun Behind the Clouds

Jacob's POV

"And there's trouble in China today, as the starts of a massive heatwave causes chaos. The heat is so severe that forests have started to catch fire, and local children have been sent home from school for their own health..."

I flicked the channel over, and sighed. I had enough depression of my own without thinking about some natural disaster on the other side of the world. It sounded harsh, but I had enough on my mind.

I pulled myself up off the sofa, and stretched, my bones cracking loudly. I dragged myself outside and took in a few deep gulps of the fresh, damp air. I set off for the forest, pushing myself faster and faster. I sprang into my wolf form before I hit the forest, and just ran as fast as I could. Not thinking, hardly breathing. Just the speed.

-You need to get a grip, Jacob.-

I sighed. The sound of Leah's voice in my head dragged me back to reality.

~Butt out, Leah.~

-I don't know what's wrong with you anymore, she continued despite my threat. All this used to be just about Bella, but now... I don't know; its like you're mad at the whole world.-

~I'm not.~

-We're not to blame, Jake. Remember that. Its not our fault.-

~I KNOW, LEAH! Get the hell outa here!~

I heard her grumble something incoherent, and felt her presence slip from my mind. I hadn't meant to shout, and I knew she was right.

I kept running, hearing nothing, seeing nothing, smelling nothing, lost in my own thoughts. I thought about the last few months. My days had consisted of sleeping and running. I knew everyone was worried about me, but I couldn't bring myself to care. At least I hadn't run away this time. I would never do that again. I would face my fears head-on. Although, right now, I had no idea what I was actually afraid of.

Since the whole thing with the evil bloodsuckers, I found it hard to focus on anything. The world seemed a lot bigger, a lot more uncertain. Even as part of this mythical world, I always sort of considered it a local thing, even when those Italian vampires had visited the first time. But with all of those creatures in one place – there must have been a hundred of them – it made me wonder just how widespread they were. Were there vampires all over the world? What about wolves? Were there other packs like ours? They had mentioned about wolves called Children of the Moon: were they real? It made me wonder, and not for the first time, just where the myths ended. Mermaids? Fairies? Ghosts? The thought made me shudder.

I briefly allowed myself to think of Bella. Bella Cullen. Not my Bella anymore. Not that she ever really was. I grimaced at the thought, but it no longer pained me like it used to. It had become a fact, an inescapable part of my life. It didn't hurt to think of her anymore. It almost didn't hurt to see her, although I had only met with her a couple of times. I was still her friend, and I figured she was still mine. But something had changed. It were as if my whole being was still searching for something, something I had once thought I had found in Bella. But now, with the realisation of this whole wide world, I knew that whatever I was looking for must be out there somewhere. This was why I was mad. This was why I felt defeated all the time. It felt as if the world were against me, determined to keep a barrier between me and my happiness.

I felt someone phase, and instantaneously, Seth was in my mind. I thought he'd be mad at me for shouting at his sister, but he was only worried.

-Jake, you need to pull yourself together.-

~I'm fine.~

-Is this still about...-

~You know its not, Seth!~

He hesitated uncomfortably.

I let my mind wander again. I had been chasing a lost cause for so long, that when I stopped I was left with nothing. Nothing else in my life. Just a gaping hole.

-You just need to find the right girl.-

Damn it. I'd forgotten he was still there.

~No, Seth, I just need to get my head on straight.~

-Yeah, whatever- he grumbled, and vanished from my head.

I felt bad for yelling again. I was driving all my friends away, but I couldn't stop it.

I phased from my wolf form without thinking, and headed over to the clifftops. The rain was setting in, just like every other day. Nothing ever changed. Well, nothing ever changed for the better. Not for me.

I looked down over the edge of the cliff to the crashing waves below. I took a deep breath and looked up at the cloudy sky. Behind the clouds pressing down all around, there had to be Sun. Somewhere.

I would sort out my wrecked life later.

I closed my eyes and jumped from the cliff, awaiting the cold water below.