Disclaimer: Don't own anything except what is obviously mine (i.e. Katie, Burkhardt.)
A/N: There's been some confusion about the time period in which Katie has to stage Cats. Katie has until October 1st to have the show finished and completely staged. At that time, representatives from Burkhardt will evaluate it, and she will learn if she's in or not. It is the beginning of June right now.
Thanks so much to my reviewers from last chapter: Fluffy OttersMadeyes61hanaharooKurai-Tenshi-015 and the wonderful, amazing, tokiwartooth! You guys all get Jacob-shaped lollypops, but toki gets a Zacky Vengeance one! Sorry toki, I'm not sure if he's the one you like, but anyways, he's still from A7X.
And though I'll think of you until the day I die, I think I'll miss you less and less as every day goes by…
Sweeney Todd-Johanna (2)
The car ride back to Jacob's house was quiet, with neither of us talking. I stole glances at Jacob when I thought he wasn't looking, trying to guess what he was thinking. Why was he suddenly being so…normal? I tried to steer my mind away from what happened in the Community Center; tried to focus on how to find people to dance in Cats. That was going to be a problem, and I knew it. No one had told me how to find dancers, and what was I supposed to do? Just hold an open audition? As far as I knew, no one here had even the remotest form of dance training. My stomach churned as I thought of how much was resting on my acceptance into Burkhardt. If I didn't make it in, my life would be over. I hadn't applied to any other schools because I was so positive that I would make it. Now, I wasn't so sure. Who would be able to help me find these people? I sighed, knowing my lack of resources was crippling me already. With a sudden burst of intuition, I realized that I could enlist Jacob to help me. Yes, that would be the true test to see if he was just acting like a fool in front of his friends, or if he really was as sweet as I thought he was.
"Hey, Jake?" I asked. I scanned his face as I waited for his reaction. He didn't seem to mind, so I continued on. "Can you help me with something?"
Jake looked at me and nodded. "Yeah, what's up?" I took a steadying breath and said,
"I have no idea how to find people to dance for me. And since I don't really know anyone here, I was wondering if you could maybe get the word out, you know, about me needing people who could try to dance in a production? I need both guys and girls, and I really don't care how old or young they are. Unless they're really old and decrepit, because it would be kind of hard for them to do the steps. It'd be wonderful if you could ask around for me. That is, if it wouldn't be too much trouble…" I trailed off, wondering where I had acquired verbal diarrhea.
Jake nodded and gave a small smile. "Sure, sure; I don't mind. You really should talk to Leah Clearwater, though. She used to take dance lessons, or gymnastics when she was little. I don't really remember which, but she was a cheerleader when she was in high school," he replied. Cheerleaders! I though wonderingly. I had forgotten about them, or maybe I had assumed that such a small town had no need for cheerleaders. Cheerleaders would be great, I thought. After all, they were already used to learning routines, so teaching them would be easy. And teenage girls would be perfect for the roles of Bombalurina, Jellylorum and Demeter, I mused. I could get littler girls to play the "kittens". The real problem would be getting guys to dance. The Rum Tum Tugger was going to be hell, along with Munkustrap and Mr. Mistoffelees. Especially Tugger, I thought. The flamboyant cat was pretty over the top, with all of his hip-shimmying and swaying.
"Yeah, you can talk to her tomorrow, maybe when I'm at school or something. I'll leave her number out." Whoa, school? It was the first of June, for crying out loud!
"Thanks, Jake. This means a lot to me, really. It's hard enough going at it alone, but with you helping me, it's gonna be tons easier," I could tell I was gushing, and knew I needed to stop before I sickened myself with all this frothy joy.
"No problem," he grinned. I smiled back at him, still unsure of what his next mood would be. "So, uh, I don't really know anything about you, just that you're living in my sisters' old room, and you're putting on a production of an Eighties musical," Jacob said. "What kind of things are you into? Like, music and stuff," I smiled and decided to be a little more obliging during this round of twenty questions.
"Basically, I'm into every type of music, except for like, hardcore country. I love musicals and Broadway, so I listen to that kind of stuff a lot. You know, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Chicago, Sweeney Todd, the usual. Rock is cool, too. Not the really new stuff; I'm much more of an AFI kind of girl. They're a solid standby, ya know? I pretty much get into whatever music we were doing a routine to back in the dance company. When we'd do hip hop, I would go on a rap binge for a while. When it was ballet, I was into the classics. I'm like a musical chameleon, I guess," I replied. An annoying little voice in my head sang Karma karma karma karma karma chameeeeeeleon. I shook my head to rid it of Boy George, shuddering slightly.
Jacob nodded sagely. "Yeah, can't say I'm into musicals, but AFI's cool. So, classical, huh? Like, Mozart and Bach and all those old dead guys?"
It was my turn to snort now. "No, not just them. It's usually Tchaikovsky, or Gounod. Faust is an amazing opera; and the balletical pieces are great for well, ballet." I wasn't lying. Faust was my favorite opera. I mean, what girl hadn't ever tried on her mother's jewelry in front of a mirror and thought about how wonderful and grown up she looked? There was a whole song in Faust about that, called The Jewel Song.
Jake nodded again, this time with a half smile on his face, as if wondering exactly how crazy I was.
"So, Jake. How old are you?" I asked. I was genuinely curious, wanting to know how much older I was than him. Yes, I know, it could turn into cradle robbing, but hey, I was allowed to be a little girlish when I wanted to.
"I'm seventeen, actually," he admitted sheepishly. I suppressed a giggle. This entire time he had been trying to make me think he was older than me, until he let slip that he was still in school.
"Wow, I never would have guessed. You look so much older," I said, trying to make him feel better. "So you're what, a senior?" I asked.
"Nope, that's next year. I'm still a junior," He popped his lips on the "p". Honestly, I thought he was a senior, same grade that I was. He sure looked it. I probably looked more like a junior than he did. Jeez, he looked like he could be out of college already. Our conversation stopped then, because Jacob had pulled up to the tiny red house, and killed the engine. I opened my door, only slightly annoyed that I had to boost my self upward to get out. Not like that in my truck, I thought. I had to jump down out of that baby.
"You can have the shower first, if you want," Jake offered shyly. "Thanks," I replied. I was surprised by his generosity. I sure wouldn't have offered up the shower first, if I had school in the morning. Jake held the door open for me as I walked into the house, and I smiled at him as I passed.
I walked into the tiny bedroom that had once been Jacob's sisters'. I couldn't imagine fitting two beds in it, and there still being space to walk around. I picked out a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeved t-shirt with the logo of my dance company on it to wear to bed. The shirt was one of my favorites, because I got it the year I was bumped up to the advanced team. My name was in bold letters on the back, with a star next to it that denoted my special status. I figured I should wear a bra to bed, in case I was surprised by Jacob or Billy later. No need for them to see my chest bouncing around randomly every time I moved, I thought to myself. I slipped off my shoes and took out my earrings. When I walked out into the small hall, I could see Jacob in the kitchen, eating a sandwich. Dinner! That's what I forgot…damn. Oh well, I'd scrounge something up after I showered.
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Jacob POV
I was a little uncomfortable, sitting on the small loveseat in the living room, half listening to a girl that I hardly knew shower in my bathroom. You better get used to it, Jake. She's living here for the rest of the summer, I told myself. I tried not to think of the only other girl who had showered in that bathroom, besides my sister. I didn't know where Bella was now, but I could only assume it was somewhere with that leech. I knew better to hope that she was still human. Thinking of Bella hurt. After I left La Push before the wedding, I never saw her again. The Cullens left immediately after the wedding, and I only got back in October. The guys were excited about Katie coming to live with me, hoping that seeing someone new would kick me into imprinting, but it hadn't. I was glad, too. I didn't want to imprint just yet. I knew it was childish, but I just wanted to have some fun. Now that the vampires were gone from Forks, I thought I could use some of that. Problem was, every time I wanted to go out with a girl, Bella kept getting in the way. I would compare the girl of the week to Bella, and she always came up short. Eventually, I gave up. That was around March, I guess. Earlier today, before Katie came looking at me, Embry was trying to convince me into having a little fun with her. After all, she was kind of hot. I didn't see the harm in it, so I decided to give it a go.
I wasn't really sure how to "flirt", per se. With Bella, it seemed so natural, like breathing or phasing. I tried following Embry's approach, which seemed to be lewd jokes and acting tough. Judging from Katie's reaction, that was not the way to go. Next, I tried asking questions about her. That didn't go well, either. She lashed out and told me she was decidedly not single. But hey, he lived in Florida, which was all the way across the country. Unless she told him, he would never find out.
As my next flirting technique, I tried compliments. I knew that once Sam had imprinted on Emily, he couldn't stop telling her how absolutely beautiful and wonderful she was. I wasn't about to tell Katie that she was beautiful flat out, so I complimented her dancing. She was really good, so it wasn't even a fake compliment. She got defensive when I told her that I thought she was good, telling me that her performance had been horrible. I smiled at her, and the look in her eyes softened. I determined that that was the way to go, and was nice and respectful the entire way home, even when she mentioned her love for Broadway.
It helped that she was attractive, too. Not as pretty as Bella, but then again, no girl would ever be as beautiful as her in my eyes. She was tall, something that I hadn't expected. I still towered over her, but she could at least hold her own next to me. Her legs were long and muscular looking under her jeans, and I saw her abs when she stretched, her shirt up slightly. I guessed that was a normal build for a dancer. If Leah wasn't being a bitch tomorrow, I might ask her. I thought about that for a second. Nah, I decided. I wouldn't ask Leah anything. I felt kind of guilty for suggesting Leah to Katie, because Leah would probably tear her into shreds within five minutes of meeting her.
That was another problem: hiding the fact that I was a werewolf. With just me and Billy at home, there was no need for secrets. I would have to be careful with Katie around, not do anything that might give me away.
I heard the water in the bathroom shut off, and found myself suddenly aware that Katie was not twenty feet away from me, dripping wet and naked, just inside the bathroom. I shook my head to clear the images that were abounding there, rather unsuccessfully. I gripped the edge of the couch, trying to keep control. After a few minutes, I heard the door open. I opened my eyes and quickly jumped up, with a sheepish look on my face, trying not to let her see my guilt. I knew my eyes were lingering on her chest, but I didn't feel like moving them. Nope, she was different from Bella there. Actually, I couldn't see much until she turned to the side. There we go! When Katie turned back to me, I moved my eyes up to her face. Her blondish hair was brown, curling tightly to her shoulders.
"Um," I managed, trying to think of a compliment. Katie cocked her head at me, waiting for me to finish my sentence. "Did you have a nice shower?" I asked. Wow. Did I just ask that? I wanted to kick myself.
"Yes, it was quite possibly the most enjoyable shower I've ever had in my entire life. Your turn." Katie rolled her eyes at me. She was good at that; even I couldn't manage that level of faux annoyance.
"Oh. Well, that's good. I'm just gonna go…take a shower now," I mumbled, trying not to say anything else stupid. I ran my hand through my shaggy hair. After Bella left, I chopped it off again, not wanting to be reminded of her. As I walked through the doorway, Katie looked up at me. I was too tall for the doorway, and my head was bowed. Katie was almost pressed up against my chest as she said my name softly.
"Jake?" she asked. I could see every individual eyelash as she looked up at me through them. I thought about kissing her and instinctively leaned in closer.
"Yeah?" I murmured. I thought I imagined her plum colored lips coming closer; I could feel her breath on my face. She smiled and looked up at me again, biting her lower lip. "Would it be cool if I…" I didn't give her a chance to answer. I leaned in and kissed her full on the lips, tilting her chin upward. She kissed me back, laying her hand on my chest. I grabbed her lower back and pulled her towards me. I probed her lips with my tongue, and she opened them, letting me have access to her mouth. When she wrapped her other arm around my neck, I ran my hand up and down her back, letting it settle on her waist. Katie broke off the kiss and stepped back, smiling at me.
"Actually, I was going to ask if it would be cool if I made myself a sandwich, but I won't say no to being kissed again." I grinned at her and pulled her body closer again, touching my lips to hers. I felt Katie smile into the kiss and I took her hand, reluctantly breaking the contact between our lips.
"How's about I make you that sandwich?"
A/N: There you go! squee Read and review my friends, and I'll post another chapter this weekend without fail!
