I'll admit this was quicker than even I expected. Must be all the avoidance of my ever growing to-do list. Hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you do.


3.

Nora was extremely nervous as Seth led her away from her friends and over to his. James had seen her go, his jaw tensing until Sarah put a hand on his arm and whispered something to him which made him scoff and look away. Nora'd have to make sure she thanked her later. Seth tugged on her hand.

"Come on," he said, excited as a puppy, "You'll love them."

Treading across the sand Nora felt her stomach flip and turn. Seth squeezed her hand in his tightly. As they got closer she heard the laughter coming from the group, Brady and Collin front and centre, surrounded by a group of guys and a few girls. She thought she recognised one of the guys as Seth's friend from English. Some of the others she had seen around the Rez, at the local store when she had taken Toby for candy, even in here uncle's store one time. They might have been buying some camping gear but she couldn't quite remember.

"Hey guys!" Seth called as they approached, lifting a hand and waving enthusiastically. "This is Nora."

Nora waved awkwardly. "Hi," she said simply.

"Didn't think you'd get the nerves to come over Redtree!" Collin crowed, sweeping her up in a hug and spinner her.

"Put me down you animal," Nora laughed, slapping her on the shoulder.

"He's not wrong," Brady said, smirking. "James has you on a fairly tight leash."

She glared at him witheringly.

"Ignore them," Seth said, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, this is the pack."

"The pack?" What a weird thing to call your friends.

"Just a nickname, don't worry," Seth shrugged.

"I'm Sam," said a guy who looked to be in his mid-twenties, the biggest of the lot. "This is my fiancé, Emily." Emily was beautiful, with shiny hair and dark eyes, though Nora had to work to stop herself from staring at the three deep scars that marred her features.

"Hi," she said cheerfully, hopping off the log and drawing Nora into a tight hug. "Seth has told us about you!" she winked.

The boy in question turned a little pink but Nora pretended not to notice. "Anyway, that's Jared and Kim," he said pointing to another couple who were lounging together in the sand. Both waved and smiled. "Paul," an angry looking young man who grunted in her general direction, "Quil's in our English class, that's Embry next to him, and that's Jacob over there."

She greeted each of them, smiling, trying to hide how anxious she was feeling with so many new people. The last one, Jacob, stood like Sam had done and walked closer to her. "Nice to meet you," he said, and then froze.

Nora blushed. Lord, he was attractive. He was big, tall and muscular with high cheekbones and a handsome face. She felt a pull towards him and she smiled shyly, a smile he returned slowly.

"God help us," the last unintroduced member of the group muttered from her seat behind Jared and Kim. Nora looked at her and was struck by how pretty she was, if unbelievably severe looking.

"Thanks Leah," Seth said, looking a little frustrated and narrowing his eyes. "That's my sister," he said sharply, tugging on Nora's hand, pulling her away from Jake and sitting her down next to him. Oddly, it felt like a loss as she left the taller boys side, but she didn't protest as Seth put an arm around her shoulder. She thought she heard a growl coming from somewhere but figured she must have imagined it.

"So your uncle owns that store over in Forks?" Jared asked.

Nora nodded. "I think I may have seen you there the other week?"

"Yeah, I was taking Kim camping and needed to get her some warmer gear."

"You planning to stick around for long?" Sam asked her casually but clearly probing. The rest stared at her intently. She felt Jacob's eyes burning into the side of her head.

"Uh, until I finish school at least," she said slowly. "Other than that, nothing planned."

"Junior right?" Quil added. "Though I've seen you're taking a few of the Senior courses."

Before she could answer Seth laughed nervously. "Come on let's leave the Inquisition behind guys, or she'll want to leave."

A little chagrined, the group apologised and the chat turned into the general goings on around the Rez and jokes between the group. Nora joined in when they could or when Seth pulled her into the conversation but mostly she just listened to the group and marveled at how in sync they were and they way they seemed to read each other's minds. Every so often she would glance over at Jacob and catch him looking back at her, and every time he would send her a gentle smile, before Seth would draw her attention back again. It was a nice way to spend her night, she thought, especially when she glanced back over to her cousin and realised that he'd been hitting the beer pretty hard. Him and the rest of his friends were getting louder and louder and were currently wrestling each other into the sand. She grimaced and thought about how easy it would be to get his keys off of him and try to drive home. Sure, she'd never done it before but it would be ten thousand times safer than letting him have the option of getting behind the wheel no matter what his plans were. Seth caught her staring and frowned at the group.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she sighed. "I should go and get his keys. Try and get myself home."

"I can go with you, if you want some company?" Jacob offered quietly.

Seth stiffened beside her and the rest of the pack fell quiet. Blushing, she nodded and stood, waiting for Jacob to join her. Silently, they walked back across the sand, Nora ignoring the harsh whispers that erupted behind them. Jacob smiled at her again.

"He have a way home?" he nodded towards James who was currently trying to clamber on Zack's shoulders.

Nora shrugged. "He said he was going to stay at Kaden's but I don't want him to be tempted to drive there so I'll take his car."

"Good plan," Jacob affirmed. Just then, James spotted them and his eyes narrowed. He hopped down and strode over to them, glaring at Jacob.

"Clearwater was bad enough Birdy, but now Black too," he slurred.

Embarrassed, Nora coughed and glanced at Jacob awkwardly. He didn't seem bothered. "I need your keys," she said simply, holding her hand out.

He eyed it carefully and then shook his head. "You can't drive Nora, I need my keys to drive my car."

"You can't drive tonight, I just want them to make sure you won't."

He rolled his eyes. "I would never," he protested.

Nora cut him off with a hand. "That's what lots of people say before they get behind the wheel pissed off their heads. Give me the keys," she said firmly.

Reluctantly, he fished them out of his pocket and dropped them in her open palm. "Are you going back over there?" he asked sulkily. He glanced behind him to where Trey and Zack were watching the three of them. "Trey wanted to hang out with you tonight."

Taken aback, she tried to fight down the blush that threatened to erupt on her cheeks. Behind her, she felt Jacob shift. "Another time," she said awkwardly, waving to her friends over James' shoulder. They waved back cheerfully. "Anyway, you enjoy your night," she said to her cousin, leaning up to hug him, a hug he returned but not without glaring at Jacob, an act he tried to hide but she caught the end of. To his credit, Jacob seemed unaffected.

"Nora, please don't try and drive my car," James looked legitimately worried. "I can't afford any repairs right now."

Putting the keys in her pocket she and Jacob walked back the way they had came. He nudged her gently in the side.

"You need a ride home?"

She stopped and looked at him. Jacob looked back at her, smirking. "James seemed really worried about his car."

Nora shrugged. "They have a great public transport system in Chicago."

"You've never driven at all?" he asked incredulously.

She shook her head. "There was no need to. Robbie and Therese are going to try and teach me while I'm here I think."

"Well, I can drive you home tonight," Jacob offered kindly. "I'll drive James' car for you so you don't have to worry about leaving it."

"You'd do that?"

The people here were truly the nicest she had met. Seth had tried his best to make her included, James' friends took her in as one of her own, and now Jacob was going out of his way to make sure she had a way home. Back home it was every girl for herself most days.

Twenty minutes later, she sat on her bed smiling, having just been dropped home by Jacob Black. After they had gotten back to the group by the fire they had dispersed and Nora had told Seth that Jacob had offered to drive her home. He hadn't look too pleased for whatever reason but hadn't caused a fuss. The others had said goodbye, Quil and Embry both grinning widely as they walked back up to the parking lot. She had worried that the car ride home would be extremely awkward but they had chatted quietly, Jacob asking her about how she was going in La Push and some of the things she was doing in school. He had pulled up the house and got out with her, tossing her the keys over the hood and saying goodnight quietly. He had insisted on walking back from her house, and strangely enough had headed into the woods, grinning cheekily as she waved goodbye. Therese had been up when she got in and hadn't asked about James, a knowing look in her eye, but had tried to get it out of her who had brought her home. Nora had remained tight-lipped and escaped upstairs with her aunt laughing after her. Something told her Therese had been peeking out the windows and knew exactly how she had gotten home not that Nora would ever give her the opportunity to quiz her.

As she fell asleep that night she couldn't shake the pair of dark eyes that were burned into her dreams.


Monday morning and Nora was dragging her feet through the doors wishing she was at the studio rather than here. James was behind her talking to Kaden going over all the events of the bonfire night. It seemed that after Jacob had dropped her off Zack and Georgina had hooked up and then Georgina had fought with Sarah about something the boys didn't have the details of. Nora could guess. She was also relieved that she had been nowhere near any of the drama though Sarah was sure to fill her in at lunch. James had also given her what he called, 'the hard truth' about Jacob Black and the pack. According to him they were all on steroids, had to be since they all got that big in a matter of months a few years back, and every since had walked around the Rez as if they owned it. He told her all of this with a scowl on his face, one that got worse whenever he mentioned Seth. She had listened without really paying any attention or taking any of it on board but promised James she would avoid them as much as possible. Not that she would be doing that no matter what he said.

"See you at lunch?" he said as he brushed past her, heading down the hallway with Kaden to their class.

"Yeah, sure," she said, stopping at her locker. Nora sighed when she couldn't immediately see the folder she needed. She began to dig around, cursing herself for leaving all of her things in there and not bothering to organise it.

"Ready for class?" a body thumped against the locker next to hers.

She smiled at Seth and shook her head. "Can't find my folder with that stupid assignment."

"You mean this one right here?" he leaned over her and plucked it out of the bottom shelf.

She sighed in relief and grinned at him. "You're a lifesaver, Clearwater."

"So did Jake get you home okay?" he asked airily as they started walking to class.

Nora fought to control the blush that threatened to spread. "Safe and sound as you can see," she reassured him.

"Good," Seth nodded, though he was frowning just a bit. "What about the pack? Are they as scary as James told you they'd be?"

She tried to deny that James had said anything but smiled sheepishly at Seth's raised eyebrow and knowing look.

"They were really nice," she said finally. She paused, "So Leah's nice."

Seth snorted loudly, drawing the attention of the students around them, "She's a nightmare, and we all know it so don't worry."

"I wouldn't have said nightmare, maybe a little blunt," Nora admitted.

"She was blunt when she was five," Seth said honestly, shrugging his shoulders.

Once in class Seth motioned for Nora to follow him to the back of the classroom where it seemed that Quil had saved the both of them a seat. She looked over to her usual spot and saw that it was occupied by a girl who had been sitting in the back row last week. Quil grinned at her and waggled his eyebrows.

"Welcome to the dark side," he crowed.

Seth rolled his eyes and gestured to the seat on the other side of his. "Ignore him," he advised her.

A little unsure she sat and put the folder on her desk which caused Quil to hang his head back and groan. "Crap, man, I totally forgot."

"At this rate you'll be a Senior again when Nora is," Seth laughed loudly.

Quil glared at him and then turned to Nora and shrugged. "Wouldn't be horrible company," he winked.

"You're repeating?" she asked him before she could stop herself, and then winced as she realised how rude she was being.

Luckily it didn't seem to bother Quil who just shrugged. "I worked a lot last year so missed some school. Promised my grandpa I would get my diploma though so here I am."

"A few of the guys were off for the same reason," Seth added. "Jake and Embry just got jobs though."

"Oh really? What do they do?" she asked trying not to give away the burning curiosity she felt at Jacob's name.

Quil looked at her knowingly and she looked away pointedly. "Jake's a mechanic, he set up a little shop in his backyard, Embry work for him."

"Oh wow, he's pretty young to own a business," Nora said surprised.

"The Council helped set him up with a loan, they're pretty keen on kick starting the local economy. Plus it helps us out on the Rez if we don't have to get into Forks when we need help with the cars."

Nora was impressed. Not many guys Jacob's age, he had to be around nineteen, would have the dedication to open up his own business. He could have just skated by like a lot of other guys did.

"Clearwater, Ateara and Redtree, the rest of us are trying to learn. Perhaps you would like to join us," Mr. Carter said cuttingly from the front of the class. "I see you've made a seating change Miss Redtree, I would advise you think carefully about choices before you make them."

Suitably chastised, Nora sank low in her seat as others in the classroom snickered. Both Quil and Seth seemed unaffected and laughed at her discomfort.

"So going back to your old seat tomorrow?" Seth teased as they walked into the hall.

Nora shook her head. "I don't mind sitting there. I can learn to ignore the two of you weirdo's."

Seth pulled her into a side hug and squeezed her tight, forcing the air out of her lungs. "Not so tight, Seth," she gasped.

"Oops sorry," he said apologetically letting her go and rubbing the back of his head. "I forget my own strength sometimes."

She wheezed a little bit and shook her head. "You're scary strong Seth, what, are you made of steel or something?"

"Something like that," he shrugged. He glanced at the clock on the wall and swore under his breath. "I've gotta run or I'll be late."

Turned out he had walked with her all the way to Biology even though his class was on the other side of campus. Hesitating slightly, he leaned in and gave her a quick hug before jumping back, blushing slightly, heading back in the direction they had came.

Feeling a little warm she walked into the classroom and saw Sarah waiting for her. "I saw you with Seth Clearwater outside," she hissed once Nora had sat down.

"Yeah, we sat together in English," Nora said.

Sarah shook her head. "Don't let James find out or he'll kill you and then go find Clearwater."

"What's his deal?" Nora sighed.

"I don't really know to be honest," Sarah said. "They've been like that since we were kids. But forget about that, did you hear about Saturday?"

In hushed whispers Sarah relayed the gossip from the bonfire. Apparently Georgina had been mooning after James after Nora had left but her cousin had either not noticed or cared. Georgina, playing the part of a woman scorned, had decided to flirt with Zack to try and make James jealous which had not worked. Sarah had made a comment that Georgina had taken offense at and it had devolved into a big fight between the two of them. Nora was exhausted just hearing about it.

"I don't know if she'll be sitting with us today," she said finally.

"What if she is? Do you want to find somewhere else?"

Sarah thought for a moment. "We'll see." She grinned at Nora mischievously, "Do you need a little company to get the courage to sit with Seth?"

"We're friends, Sarah," Nora insisted.

"Yep, okay," Sarah said loftily. "It's just, you should know, that Seth Clearwater hasn't shown any interest in the girls around here until you showed up. As far as I see it, it's a sign."


So I know some of you thought Seth was our imprinter but sorry to burst some bubbles! I love Jacob's character and was never keen on the Renesmee ending. It just seemed a little icky to me. So I'm ignoring its existence.

Let me know your thoughts, I would love to hear them.

Hannah :)