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It was mildly entertaining to see Jacob standing right in the middle of the living room looking completely lost. Mom had ran into the kitchen while dad was making a few phone calls, leaving me, Alice and Jacob in the living room to grow increasingly uncomfortable.
I was dying for a shower but figured I couldn't just leave Jacob alone with Alice. I love her and all, but something told me that Jacob was having trouble handling her tendency to talk someone to death.
Jacob's lack of any enthusiastic response forced Alice to stop asking questions and talking for once. So instead, she sat on the couch and watched Jacob silently with her big green eyes, her mouth twitching with what seems to be unasked questions. She was staring at him as if he was a new pair of shoes she had always wanted. I knew the look. It couldn't end well on Jacob's part.
Jacob, on the other hand, seemed to completely disregard the sofas around him. Instead of sitting anywhere, he stood smack down in the middle of the living room, his eyes fixed onto the cream carpet.
Awkward.
"So, um, Jacob, you hungry?"
To this question, he glanced at me momentarily then shrugged, his eyes fixated on the carpet once again. I saw Alice tilt her head to the side with raised eyebrows. She mouthed "is he angry?" at me, to which I mouthed back "I don't know." I honestly didn't.
"Here, Jacob, why don't you take a seat." I offered. To this, he took a quick glance at the empty seat next to me with what seemed to be hesitation.
I was beginning to question if I smelled horribly or something.
Maybe I needed the shower more than I thought.
For a moment he seemed to weigh his options. Then he walked over to the couch and sat next to me, making sure there was sufficient distance between us. His back was straight, his shoulders tense, and I could clearly see that he's nervous...but why?
If anything, I should be intimidated by him. I was considered quite tall and well-built myself, but this guy was huge. And with those insanely dark and intense eyes and a permanent stoic expression fixed on his face, he was, in all honesty, intimidating.
I saw Alice's eyes twinkling as she continued to watch Jacob, so I gave her a stern look to tell her not to ask any questions or say anything that might make everything even worse. There was no knowing what was going to tip him over.
Mom called for Alice to help her in the kitchen, and to this Alice sighed and reluctantly removed herself from the living room. So there we were, just the two of us. The lifesaver and the saved, sitting in the spacious living room, not even looking at each other.
Silence. Silence. And more silence.
"So, Jacob, want a tour of the house?" I had to break the silence somehow, even though the question was quite lame. I felt awfully rude for having him just sit there like that. Mom and dad raised me to be better than that.
He only shrugged. Of course.
"Come on, I'll show you around. Think we got some time to kill before the food's ready."
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I saved my room for last. The tour was short-lived, considering he didn't seem to be all that interested in the house. If anything, he was growing increasingly nervous, as if a monster was going to pop out of any given room.
"And here is my room. Let's see...um, this is my music collection." I pointed to my collection of CDs to one side of my room. "You like music?"
Of course he would just shrug again...so I decided not to push.
Does he hate me or something? I had to wonder. I then contemplated handing him a shirt to put on, but realize that I don't own a single thing that would fit him. I mean, yeah we were of similar height, but this guy was ripped...I don't think I've seen a teenager this ripped before.
Mom's call from downstairs saved me from having to brainstorm for another question. He quietly followed me downstairs, into the kitchen.
As always, mom had cooked up some great dishes, and I saw that dad, mom and Alice have already taken their seats, welcoming us with a warm smile. Ah, mom's specialty. Her Italian cuisine.
I motioned Jacob to sit next to me, to which he followed with the same hesitant expression he showed when I had motioned him to the couch.
For a brief second, I couldn't help but wonder...Oh crap, what if he's like some mountain man who doesn't know how to use forks and knives or something? Is that a possibility or have I been reading too many books or watching too many movies? He talks human language, so that means he's all normal, right?
Once the meal began, I eyed him nervously, half expecting him to start using his hands, but to my surprise, he was eating with all the proper table manners. Mom and dad were exchanging looks, probably trying to figure out what to say, and Alice was blatantly staring at Jacob while stuffing herself with the meatballs on her plate.
"So, Jacob." Mom's the one to break the silence. "I hope you like the food."
Jacob swallowed in a hurry before answering "Yes, ma'am."
"Oh, no no, no need for formalities! Call me Esme."
"Yes, ma'am."
To this, mom giggled and waved her hand before repeating her name. Alice also giggled and silently mouthed "He's so cute" in my direction. I rolled my eyes at her and returned to my plate.
The meal continued, with mom and dad asking basic questions, like his age and his hobbies, and I was glad that they made sure to avoid any personal questions. They had always been so good at reading people.
Then I realized how much he was eating. A lot. Not like a constantly-hungry-teenager a lot, but more of holy-shit lot. From what I gathered, he was on his 5th serving of pasta, topped with meatballs, most of the chicken, roast potatoes...and I lost count of how many garlic bread pieces he had.
He wasn't eating anymore. He was inhaling his food at this point.
Dad picked up on this well and let out a chuckle. "Wow, Jacob, you sure do have a healthy appetite! Esme loves it when people enjoy her cooking."
Jacob, who has his teeth buried into another garlic bread, stopped and looked around the table. He put the bread down and mumbled an apology, as if he had just slaughtered a puppy. To this, dad raised his eyebrows in shock, Alice gave dad the what-the-hell look and mom began giggling again.
"Oh, Jacob hun, don't apologize! I'm so glad you're enjoying the food! And plus, I know boys your age have to eat all the time!"
No, mom. We eat a lot, but usually not THIS much.
"Yeah, I like a man with a healthy appetite," Alice added and giggled, as Jacob slumpedinto his chair with what seemed to be embarrassment evident on his face.
Good work, Alice.
After dinner, mom tells us "young'uns" to go play in the living room or something while she cleans up, so we enter the living room once again.
I don't know what Jacob's deal with couches are, but he was just standing in the living room...AGAIN.
Before I tell him to sit down and make himself comfortable, dad walked in and does the work for me.
"So, Jacob. I don't know how to thank you for bringing Edward back to us."
"It was nothing, sir."
"Carlisle."
"...OK."
"Is there any way we can repay you? I know you said it was OK, but it would mean a lot to us if you'd let us. You have no idea how thankful we are."
Jacob began fidgeting in his seat.
"So son, do you live by yourself?"
Uh-oh.
"Yes, sir."
For a moment, I saw dad wanting to correct him, but he just smiled and continued.
"If you don't mind me asking...do you stay in contact with your parents?"
"No, sir."
"Oh...and you live in the mountains?"
"...Yes, sir."
I crossed my fingers, hoping that dad won't go into the whole underaged person living alone deal and call child-protection service or something. I just knew that would end horribly and probably make all of us a complete asshole after what he had done for us.
"Isn't that really dangerous?" Alice interrupted, her eyes wide in surprise. "I mean like, with bears and everything!"
"Alice."
"Sorry, dad. But really, how?"
I gave Alice another look and she responded with the "I'm just asking" look. There was no stopping her anyway so I didn't even bother verbalizing my discontent.
"Alice, I'm sure Jacob has his ways." Dad mediated the situation, sending a look Alice's way. "Jacob, I won't push you to tell me why or how, but Esme and I had a little talk, and well, we'd like you to stay with us. We don't doubt you're perfectly capable of handling yourself, but it'd mean a lot to us if you'd at least spend some time at this house with us...at least while we find a way to repay you. Please do consider it."
"We'd love to have you, sweetie," mom added as she walked into the living room. "Please stay. We can go pick your things up and help you move in with us. We have a guest room all ready."
"Yeah! That'd be kinda cool! Stay!" Alice was practically jumping in her seat. Frankly, I couldn't understand why she was so excited all of a sudden, considering she hardly knew him.
It was fairly clear to me that Jacob wasn't some serial murderer. First off, he did save my life and never acted in a way which would indicate a violent nature. During our entire time spent together, he was acting like a scared kitten. However, he did avoid eye contact, which was an indication of a psychopath, according to all the TV crime series I've been watching. I pushed the last part aside.
While he did live by himself on a mountain, he seemed to be well-mannered and well-behaved, which led to the conclusion he wouldn't be a threat to any of us. Unless it was his thing to wait till his victims trusted him before he killed them.
I really should stop watching all those TV shows.
And the thing is, something just told me that he was a nice guy. He may look a bit scary, but my instinct told me he wouldn't hurt a damn fly. A guy living in the mountain and shit are usually in tune with nature and in love with peace and all things nice, right?
So I was perfectly fine with having him stay at the house, but I was more concerned that he'd feel uncomfortable, considering he wasn't even able to sit on the family couch without looking as if the couch was going to swallow him whole.
When we all looked at him for an answer, all muscles of his body visibly tensed.
"Sir, ma'am...thank you but...I can't."
"WHY!" Alice's sudden outburst almost gave me hear-attack. She was pouting, her hands balled into fists.
"Jacob honey, if you're worried that we-" Mom tried to intervene, but was cut short by Jacob.
"Really, thank you, but I can't...I just can't...thank you so much for the food, it was the best I've ever had, but I...I'll get going now."
"Jacob, we can't just...let you live on the mountain like that. Please try to understand." Dad tried to reason with him, but Jacob looked quite firm in his decision to leave. It was quite surprising that he was unwavering, considering how mom and dad were two of the most persuasive people I know.
"I'll be OK...I'll-"
Yeah, this conversation was going nowhere.
"Mom, dad, Alice. Would it be OK if I talk to him for a minute?" They nodded, so I half dragged Jacob with me to my room, where he'd hopefully feel less...pressured. I closed the door behind me and plopped onto the bed, trying to look as non-threatening as possible.
"Look, Jacob. I know my family can be a little...I dunno what the word is, and I know this is all really sudden and random and probably confusing, but really, they're good people and we'd really love to have you around. I'd like for you to at least give it a try for a few days. Come on, what do you say?"
I saw Jacob biting his lower lip. He's avoiding eye contact. Again.
"I can't."
"OK...well can I ask why?"
"I just can't."
"Do you...not feel comfortable? Is it your parents? Religion? Come on, give me something."
"...I just can't."
I watched him as he turned his eyes to the window. And for a moment I forget to breathe as I see the pained expression marring his face. It was as if he was engaged in a fight against himself. As if he wanted so badly to say something but couldn't.
The pain I registered from his face wasn't a fleeting kind of pain. It was the kind of pain which had plagued him for what seems to be his lifetime. He seemed so vulnerable all of a sudden. His staggering figure seemed so small, his intense eyes suddenly so heartbreakingly pitiful.
Seeing him that way, I couldn't push the question anymore, but something told me I had to at least pursuade him to stay for the night. I just couldn't let him walk out of the house...not after seeing that expression on his face.
"Jacob..."
He flinched at my voice but remained still.
"Stay. Please. It'll be fun. My mom always cooks these great meals, dad is a great guy, Alice is really fun and caring once you get to know her, and I think we'll have a great time hanging out, you know?"
He's still unmoving, but from his slight change in experience, I could see that I was getting to him. That I had a shot at persuading him to stay.
"Come on, we're not crazy people. We're not going to kill you in your sleep or anything."
What he did next caught me completely off guard.
He inhaled sharply and narrowed his eyes, as he clenched his fist so tightly that his veins looked as if they were going to burst. I thought I heard actual growling, but wasn't sure because I was busy trying to understand just what the fuck is going on and what I had said wrong.
At first, he looked angry, but then the expression turned into that of complete anguish...the kind that made my chest tighten in pain. If he had looked sad before, now he looked completely broken.
What did I say? What did I do wrong this time? How could I fuck up a conversation this badly without knowing?
"Woa, Jacob, relax, please? I'm sorry if I said anything to offend you...I just really want you to stay, that's all."
"I. Can't." His voice was so riddled with emotions that for a second, I forgot how to speak. He looked at me, I mean really looked at me, for the first time since we got into the room, and his dark eyes burned into my very soul. "I... can't, I'm sorry." His voice was barely above a whisper but rang clearly in my head.
"Why."
Fuck, now I really can't just let him walk out.
"I just can't."
"That's bullshit. What do you mean you just can't!"
"Why do you care anyway."
"Because I want you to stay."
"I said, I can't."
"See you keep saying you can't. Is it that you can't or that you won't?"
To this question, he seems stumped. I took the opportunity to push on. I was growing frustrated, sad, angry and whatever other millions of emotions that were flooding into my brain, gradually turning off my abillity to filter my words.
"If it's that you don't want to stay with us, fine, there isn't much I can do. My family would be sad, but whatever, right?" I knew I was being unfair, but I was exhausting my resources in the valid argument department.
Jacob looked away.
"But if it's a problem of you not being able to, at least tell us why. I won't tell them if you don't want me to. I'll give them some excuse, but can you at least tell me? You're killing me here!"
I got off the bed and walked over to him. He's breathing has gotten louder after my outburst, and he was staring at the damn carpet again.
"Jacob, man, say something."
After what seemed like eternity of deafening silence, Jacob opened his mouth, his eyes clenched shut.
"...I...I don't want to hurt anyone."
What?
"I don't get it."
"I...have this...tendency to...hurt people."
"What do you mean?"
Did he mean like he brought bad luck to people? Was he superstitious? Or did something happen to his family that made him blame himself? Is that why he was living alone? I had so many damn questions, but I knew better than to ask him any of those questions. I was already walking on thin ice.
"Stop asking. I just do...so I can't. I can't be here."
"Umm...that really doesn't make any sense."
"I know, so just, let me go."
Before I could ask him anything, I heard soft knocking on the door. The door opened to reveal Alice with her puppy-dog look.
"Jacobbbb, are you staying with us?"
"I'm sorry, I-"
"Please stay?"
As her older brother who knew her too well sometimes, I instinctively knew what she was up to. So I backed up and let Alice work her magic.
She walked into the room and stood very close to Jacob. She looked up with her big eyes, her lips pouting. "Please?"
"I..."
"Is it because you don't like me?"
I knew this was only the beginning. Alice, you make me proud.
"What? No-" He looked absolutely flabbergasted, his dark eyes wide open, his mouth slightly agape.
"Is that it? Is it because I talk to much? I won't if you don't like it...it's just that I really really like you and want you to stay with us..."
Oh lord, she's doing the tearing thing with her ginormous eyes. She let out a quiet sniff for added measure, and judging from Jacob's bewildered and guilty expression, I knew it was working. She never failed and wasn't about to now.
"I'm sorry...I just...really wanted you to stay...but I guess I already made you hate me..."
I did my best to hold back my laughter. My baby sis knew that she can be just so damn adorable, not that I'd ever tell her that. Jacob looked lost as he stared into her tearing eyes. He was clearly not used to girls' crying. Poor guy.
Alice began to cry softly and wrapped her arms around Jacob, which, despite the situation, was quite amusing because he's so damn big and she's so damn small. Jacob has his arms mid-air, his hands sort of floating around Alice, completely lost.
He turned to look at me, so I quickly put on my best sad face. As if I was going to help him out of this. He looked back at Alice, his mouth agape.
"...I don't hate you..."
"Yes you do...that's why you won't stay..."
"No, I really don't...it's not that..."
Alice just began to "cry" louder, letting out her most heart-breaking sob. She had a lifetime of experience getting what she wanted from mom and dad (and me) and it was really starting to pay off.
"OK, Alice, I'm sorry, I'll stay, please don't cry..."
Alice snapped up, tears running down her face. "You will? Really?"
"I can't say for how long...but I will...so please stop crying..."
"You mean it? You're going to stay with us?"
With one hand, she wiped her tears, but with the other hand, she flashed a thumbs up sign only for me to see. I faked a cough just to hide my laughter.
"...Yes."
"OH JACOB! I'm so happy! You don't know how much this means to me! Imma go tell mom and dad! Thanks Jacob!" Alice hugged him again before bouncing out the room screaming for mom and dad.
Jacob looked absolutely defeated, his shoulder slumped. I walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, which was alarmingly warm, and gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "Thanks Jacob. We all appreciate it. Come on, let's go back downstairs."
Something told me this house was going to get a lot more interesting.
Oh and now I know to never trust Alice's crying.
Oh Alice, you adorable thing you! Don't you just love her? Ph, and I've had comments mentioning imprinting. Should imprinting be a part of this story? I originally thought no but...hmmm...what do you think?
Reviews make the writer go...faster? :D