A/N: Thank you to the over 200 people who did not review but clicked on my story and those who did you help me know that I am doing an okay job at this story so please continue reading and reviewing.
Without further ado the new chapter.
-edited-
Chapter Three: Completely and Utterly Unexpected
It took a few weeks of intense training before Sam would give me permission to go back to school. I was sitting at the kitchen table chowing down on a huge breakfast of ham, eggs, and pancakes. I barely paused when I heard him open the back door and walk in.
"I'm fine, Sam," I said around a mouthful of food not even bothering to turn to face him. "There's a few pancakes left if you want them," I offered as I shoveled more into my mouth. I knew I was eating like a pig at that moment but I could easily slip into the 'eat like a proper lady' mode if needed. I slowed in my shoveling and looked over at him swallowing so I could speak without showing him my half chewed food.
"I never implied you weren't," he remarked softly as he took a seat across from me and pulled the plate with three remaining pancakes towards him.
"I know, but you were thinkin' it," I responded giving him a look as I shoved another mouthful past my lips.
"Oh, so you can hear my thoughts now, huh?" he arched a brow. "What am I thinking now?" he asked teasingly as he leaned forward on his elbows.
"That I should wait another week since it won't matter," I replied then added. "Oh and you're thinking about how you would love to be at home with Emily cuddling on the couch, or doing other activates with her that I don't even want to think about right at this moment," said rolling my eyes in mock disgust as I shoved the rest of my food into my mouth and chewed.
Sam blinked in surprise then snorted softly in amusement.
"That transparent, huh?" he mused with a small grin as he easily reached across the table and ruffled my hair which made me bat at his hand. But the damage was done and I had to run my fingers through my hair again.
It was cut short, above my shoulders in a wispy-layered cut that flared out like a spiky halo and now because of Sam it flared out even more. I had cut it so that it wouldn't get as full of twigs and leaves when I ran through the forest. It still got tangled but it was easier to look after than the almost waist length it was before. Also lighter, too, because I had gotten in layered. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Ass," I muttered making Sam laugh at me, then quickly snatched up my backpack and slung it over my shoulder before pulling on a pair of sneakers. "I'll be fine, Sam. Besides the only class I actually have to talk to anyone is in drama. I already finished the other two in correspondence and just need to take the finals. I'll be home by three like always, okay?"
I turned to him and looked at him pleadingly. "I can do this. I want to do this. Jacob and Quil are calling and texting me every moment of the day. I don't know how mom can afford the phone bill these days," I stated then added. "Plus, Jacob's probably close to changing at any moment I need to be there just in case."
"Okay! You win, you can go to school," Sam sighed looking a mix of amused and concerned. "But if you feel it's too much you can just come home."
My eyes lit up and I grinned at him, "Thank you!" With that I got out of the house as quickly as I could without breaking anything and took off at a jog, careful to keep it human until I reached the tree line then really took off.
I was at the school a few seconds later. So this is my Flash impression? I mused as I made my way to my drama class even though it was still only like 12:30.
I was walking past the café when I heard my name shouted. I paused, looking into the crowded room wondering who had called me when I spotted Quil waving at me and I walked over with a smile.
"Hey, Quil," I greeted as I walked over and as I did I noticed the conversations around me died away leaving a hushed conversations that I could easily hear.
"There she is."
"Whoa, what the hell happened to her?"
"I heard she went and had plastic surgery. That's why she missed so much school."
"Shit man, look at her tits. I could so tap that."
I glanced around me as I tracked who the last voice belonged to and saw a group of jocks eyeing me like a porn magazine. One guy gave what I assumed was suppose to be his "smolder" smile that was suppose to make me swoon. But it succeeded only in making me want to laugh at his attempt. I arched a brow at them and scoffed.
"Please, spare me," I laughed before continuing on to where Quil sat looking ready to launch himself at me.
"Isa! You're back!" he exclaimed then launched himself at me, giving me a huge hug, which took me by surprise, I never figured Quil for a hugger. "Whoa," he exclaimed when he pulled away. "What happened to you? You start weightlifting or something? You're huge!" His eyes lingered on my boobs before looking at the rest of me.
"Quil, My eyes are up here," I snapped my fingers in front of his face to make him look up at mine. I knew I had gained a lot of muscle, which made my boobs jealous, it seemed, because they increased a full cup size from a B to almost a C.
"Er, sorry," he smirked at me before pulling me to sit down. "Jake's gonna flip that he missed you," Quil stated as he shoved food in his mouth as he grinned at me.
"Missed me?" I frowned. "He's not here?" I asked feeling a flicker of disappointment at this. "Is he sick or something? I hope I didn't give him mono," I added faking worry.
"Why, d'you kiss him before you left?" Quil asked with a smirk. I fought off the urge to blush at the very thought and quickly blurted.
"NO! Of course not!"
Quil's eyes lit up at this because I sounded defensive and defensive usual means guilty.
"Sure," he said simply and gave me a disbelieving look as he took a swallow of his pop. I had to bite my tongue to keep from trying to defend myself because I knew the more I talked the more he would think I had a crush on Jacob. Which I sort of did, but who wouldn't? With his caring personality, and his yummier than chocolate sexy body.
God I sound like a fangirl….
"So if he's not sick, where is he?" I asked.
"He skipped school to spend time with Bella," Quil explained watching my reaction carefully.
"Oh…?"
I fought to keep the dislike off my face but it radiated through my voice. Jacob had been talking about Bella non-stop since they had finished their bikes, which I snuck into his little garage to see while he had been sleeping. I was careful to avoid being seen, but I needed to know if she had had her little hallucination accident on the bike yet so as to judge when the disaster date was.
Quil chuckled at me. "You don't like her do you?" he asked bluntly as he finished off his food.
"I can't say I know her well enough to hate her," I remarked truthfully. It wasn't that I hated her, I just hated a stage of her life.
"Fair enough," Quil nodded as he gathered up his plates. "You not eating?" he asked look at me in concern.
"I ate at home," I told him knowing that I could never let anyone but my mom and the pack see me eat. I down enough to feed three people and that would raise eyebrows even for a six-foot tall girl like me.
Quil just nodded and walked with me to my next class. "Hey can I come over later?" he asked hopefully as I paused outside the door. I mentally cringed at his question knowing I couldn't let him visit on the off chance Embry came over. Embry didn't have the same level of control as I did yet and would often burst out of his clothes.
"I'm not sure, I'll have to ask if anything is going on tonight," I compromised not exactly saying 'no' or 'yes'. "I'll text you," I stated with a smile.
Quil tried to hide his disappointment as he nodded and walked to his own class. I winced at the hurt I caused him before walking into the drama room and getting caught up in rehearsal.
Turns out that my constant reading of the play was helping, plus Embry would come over every night to help me rehearse. I blushed when my teacher praised me for my work but said I needed to express myself a little more for the part. Let my inner creepy voice out to play. His words not mine.
Maybe I should practice on Sam tonight while patrolling since he's the only one I could trust that would not be too pissed at me for doing it.
After my class I walked to the forest then took off, waiting until I was a mile or two in when I stripped, zipped my clothes in my pack and phased.
'-Hey, Sis. How was school?-' - Sam.
'-Good, didn't even get annoyed,-' I replied as I stretched, picked up my backpack in my mouth and took off at a run. God, nothing felt better, than the wind whipping through my fur at that moment as I tried to figure out how to ask my brother about Quil.
'-Quil, can't come over, Isa. It's too dangerous.-'
Damn, he had looked through my thoughts again.
'-Come on, Sam. Quil's lonely. Jacob's all but ditched him for Bella and Embry won't be able to go back to school for at least another month,-' I pleaded. '-I'm the only best friend he's got that can talk to him right now.-'
Sam was silent for a while and I could see he was wavering.
'-We're just gonna watch a movie and play video games,-' I added hoping to sway him.
'-Fine,-' he said after a while. 'As long as it's only that, any nothing more.-'
I literally pranced after hearing him say yes. Yay, I could spend time with my friend!
'-Thank you!-' I exclaimed as I rushed home so I could text Quil the good news. I was going to- I paused in my thoughts as my nose caught a scent…a very familiar one.
Confused, I stashed my pack and tracked the scent until I began to hear voices, one female and the other male.
"OH! I'm SO sorry, Jacob," the female exclaimed.
I was careful to stay out of sight as I snuck up on them and froze when I heard his voice.
"Why are you apologizing for bleeding?"
Velvety and smooth like the best kind of chocolate making my inner wolf perk up and strain forward. I couldn't help but creep forward as though he was pulling me forward. His back was to me when I finally saw him.
"Let's go, Bella. I'll drive," I heard him say but I couldn't tear my eyes away from him to even to look at the person I now knew was Bella. Then he turned around and I saw his face.
Suddenly and completely unexpected I couldn't breathe, my vision went fuzzy and nothing mattered anymore. Not that I was in a book, nor the fact I wanted to go back home.
Just… him.
Just him. The boy that I had supposedly known since preschool… Jacob Black.
'-Holy shit, she imprinted.-' -Jared.
I slammed the lid on my thoughts and tried to focus but found I couldn't, my thoughts kept straying back to Him.
There was only Him.
My breath started to come in shallow pants as panic began to set in. I could hear Sam asking what was wrong. But I couldn't answer otherwise I would mentally barf on him spilling everything.
'-Isa, Breathe! You need to breathe!' - Jared.
'-Isa, Come back!' –Sam
The only reason I could turn tail just then and take off running as hard and as fast as I could was because Sam had made it an Alpha command. I vaguely heard the roar of a motorbike and it spin out taking off in the opposite direction. But I didn't stop running even though everything in me screamed for me to turn around and follow Him.
No!
I didn't stop until I was almost hit by a semi while crossing the highway. I probably gave the poor trucker a heart attack but I didn't care. I reached a small grassy clearing on the other side of the road. That was when I phased back and collapsed onto the grass-covered ground. I curled up on my side, my hair a mess across my face. It wasn't until I moved to brush it away that I realized I was crying and panting for breath.
How could this have happened? I was in a fictional creation. How could I imprint? I wasn't even from this world. I was, for all intents and purposes, a fraud pretending to be someone I'm not. I covered my head with my arms hiding my eyes, as if that would make everything alright again.
Already I could feel it pulling at me to go back. Demanding I go back. I shook my head weakly in denial. This couldn't be happening…
I was never a real believer in love at first sight. I believed in lust at first sight but not love, not really, and to have this thrust on me was a shock and cruel beyond measure. I knew he would impress on Bella's kid when she had it and I would be left with my heart ripped out.
Suddenly I heard a whine and I felt a wet nose nudge my back. I stiffened then glanced behind me and saw Embry, in wolf from, leaning over me, looking at me in concern. I sniffled, tears still in my eyes, feeling overwhelmed.
Embry's big furred head loomed over her mine as he licked my cheeks, catching some of my tears. I didn't grimace away from his touch. He was just trying to comfort me but lacked hands to wipe away my tears and was using what he had. I gave a weak laugh as I wiped at my face with my hands before he walked away then came back with my pack in his mouth and dropped it by my head.
His actions were clear. Put on some clothes so I would stop distracting him. I snorted softly in amusement as I pulled my jeans and shirt on, not caring about underwear because I knew I would be phasing to run back home.
"So you want to talk about it?" Embry asked as he turned back towards me once he had pulled shorts on after phasing. I shook my head as he took a seat beside me.
"Okay…" he began not wanting to push me and I appreciated it not sure I wouldn't break down again on him leaving him clueless while he comforted a sobbing girl.
"Did Sam send you?" I asked softly around a sniffle.
Embry smiled wyly almost sadly. "Yes and no. He told me you ran off and Jared refuses to tell him why. Saying you would tell us yourself." He shrugged. "I was worried, an' offered to find you and bring you back."
He pulled his knees up and rested his forearm on them as he looked at me.
"So you found me," I stated dully as I tried to get myself under control.
"Yeah and you were crying, Isa," he looked at me in concern.
"So?" I mumbled looking at the ground not wanting to meet his gaze.
"Isa…You don't cry easy," he stated. "The last time I saw you cry was when you broke your leg in grade nine after we dared you to climb to the highest branch of that tree."
I tried to wipe my face clean of tears but they kept on coming.
"I'm just a little stressed, Em. Don't worry about me," I told him as I struggled to my feet only to find that I couldn't stay on my feet and fell to my knees again. I was trembling as I tried once again to get to my feet.
"Isa, you're exhausted. You shouldn't phase," Embry insisted as he got to his feet too. I could tell by the look on his face that he knew there was something I wasn't telling him but he was letting it go for the moment.
"I can and will, Em," I told him tiredly as I began to pull off my clothes and stuffed them back in my pack so I could phase. Embry politely averted his gaze until I had phased. Once done, I was trembling with exhaustion, but I refused to admit defeat as I started walking back to La Push. Embry had already scooped up my pack as he led the way back. I followed not really paying attention as I focused on listening to the others thoughts.
Jared had been careful to not think about my imprinting on Jacob. For that I was grateful and sent my thanks.
'-It's not as bad as you think, Isa-,' he sent back.
'-Speak for yourself. Kim loved you before you started phasing.-'
'-How do you know he doesn't?-'
'-Trust me, he doesn't belong with me.-'
Jared sent me feelings of confusion but I didn't reply as I focused on the others thoughts trying to keep my mind thought free so as not to betray my imprinting. I was so tired that I didn't even attempt to climb up to my window choosing instead to use the door and the stairs. But at this point I was so tired I could barely stand and Embry had to wrap an arm around my waist to keep me upright.
I barely noticed that I was still naked and so was he, but when I did I felt a flare of panic and quickly whispered in his ear.
"Don't let Sam, or my mom catch us, Em. Or I will be hearing about this for a year."
Embry scoffed. "At least you'd be alive. Sam would tear me to pieces, taking my balls first," Embry muttered under his breath as he helped me up the stairs as quietly as he could. Neither of us spoke until we were in my room and my door was firmly closed.
I pulled on an oversized t-shirt and crawled into bed, while Embry went to my window and opened it.
"I've gotta go, Isa. I have to tell Sam I got you home alright. He probably left a bazillion messages on your phone," he turned quickly and moved to the side of my bed. And sure enough I could hear my cell in my backpack going nuts. "I'll see you tomorrow to help you with your lines," he offered before giving me a quick hug and leapt out my window, phasing mid leap before taking off at a run once he hit the ground.
Sleep came to me slowly and I dreamt of him. I was wrapped in his arms as he whispered he loved me. Only for him to disappear then suddenly appear playing with a beautiful little girl that didn't act like a child, but a small adult. Pain flared in my chest at the sight and I knew this was Nessie, the mutant child of Bella and Edward. It felt like my heart was being ripped in half and for that brief moment I could understand Bella's pain when Edward left her.
I curled up on my side alone in the dark as I started crying and that's how I woke up, with tears on my face. I looked around groggily trying to figure out what woke me. It was still dark out and my bedside clock read 2am.
I had only slept for an hour but it had felt longer and struggled to figure out why I was conscious. Suddenly I heard a howl and scrambled to get to my feet pulling my shirt off as I went. I phased as I dove out my window and took off running as soon as my paws hit the ground.
'She's heading back towards you, Jared' I heard Sam state as I let loose a howl and was met by a chorus of howls near the Fork's border.
'-Isa, cut her off if she gets past Jared.-'
'-On it!-' I replied as I kicked it into overdrive and raced to help Jared. I used my nose. It was easy to find the sickly sweet scent of a vampire. I felt a stab of surprise fill me as I caught a glimpse of red hair.
Victoria…
The vamp that had it in for Bella, because Edward had killed her mate.
I pushed myself harder and found myself catching up to her. I threw myself into a leap, jaws wide desiring nothing more than to tear something to shreds. I felt her hair brush my muzzle when I was suddenly hit in the ribs and slammed into a huge cedar. My growl changed from one of triumph to a yelp of pain as I felt the bones in my side give with multiple cracks before my head hit the wood with a resounding crack.
My vision went blurry as I fought to remain conscious and I heard Sam screaming at me in my head to get up and run.
'-Get out of there!-'
But my muscles refused to cooperate as I struggled to get to my paws but yelped when pain lanced through my sides.
"Not so tough, are you?" a female voice hissed as I felt an icy hand grab me by the throat, choking off my air.
'I-'ll show you tough,-' I growled my vision clearing a little as rage and adrenaline pumped through me. I kicked at her with my feet before twisting and chomping down on her marble hard arm. Her grip tightened but I had already started to shake her like a rag doll tearing off her arm in the process. I growled as I glared at the red headed Leech, her arm dangling from my mouth and I wanted nothing more than to spit it out and go for more. But I was sent flying again as I was too focused on Victoria to remember she had backup.
Laurent.
This time I hit the ground hard and Victoria's arm flew from my mouth as I skidded across the forest and hit a large boulder, this time making it feel like my already broken ribs punctured a lung. I yelped in pain and tried to get up but couldn't. Every little move hurt.
I was barely aware of a dark shape leaping over me before I passed out from the pain.
"Isa?" someone called. "Isa, please wake up!" their voice was panicked as I felt hands being run through my fur. "Come on, dammit! Open your eyes!"
The voice echoed with an Alpha command and I struggled to open my eyes but could only manage it for a few seconds before I closed them again. I whimpered as with every breath it hurt and it felt like I couldn't get much air, like my lung were already full of something besides air.
I tried to cough to clear my lungs enough to breathe, but that made the pain explode through me and I yelped in agony.
"Just try to breathe, Sis don't try to cough," he told me as he threaded his fingers through my fur at the scruff of my neck. I struggled to open my eyes again and saw Sam's concerned face. He was crouched over me and I pushed my muzzle into him trying to reassure him. His face softened as I did this and I could see there was tears in his eyes.
'Don't cry because I'm stupid, Sam,' I thought as I took shallow breaths, the pain was manageable but still painful and I wanted to cough but knew better.
"I need you to phase back, Isa. So I can take you home and get you some help before your ribs heal wrong and have to be re-broken," he told me as he stroked my head. I closed my eyes and phased back, after which Sam quickly scooped me up and took me home.
A/N: Those of you might be wondering why Laurent is there well I figured it is not entirely not impossible that he could have been asked to spy on the Cullens not to far away from the borders of both La Push and Forks by Victoria and the Pack came across them. Laurent does not find Bella in the field until after Jacob changes and stops talking to her. So the storyline is still intact because Sam lets the others go after Victoria and Laurent but is too worried about his twin, as is Embery. So they get away for now while the Pack is preoccupied with an injured member.
So any way I will happily ask any questions to those you ask them and I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please review and tell me what you thought. If I'm going to fast or if I need to lengthen parts or if I should add more of a particular pack member lol. I am trying to get the relationships running smoothly.
Oh and special thanks to .13 for being my Beta for this story.
-Edit: thanks to Lydia who helped me fix this up-
Later -waves-
Brandy_L
