It's morning. I know it is by the light beaming down on from the window.
I groan and blink open my eyes. Damn! I try and shield them with the pillow tucked under my chest and reach blindly for the curtains. My wrist bumps against something and it falls to the bed.
I risk the blinding light and look at it. It's a picture of Bella, her friend, and I at the beach the first summer she came here, back when I had my long hair.
I fall back to the pillow. I haven't told her yet.
"Welp…today's the day" A yawn ripples through me and I get up and take a piss, brush my teeth and hop in the shower. Lukewarm water does the body good on days like this, I swear. Felt like a puddle of sweat was sitting in the middle of my back.
When I climb out, I grab a pair of briefs, grey shorts, my shoes, a few squirts of lotion and I head out to the door. I don't even bother checking in on Dad. He'll be calling me soon enough.
I ease out of the garage and pull off. There's little to no traffic. Besides, it's only fifteen minutes to ten. No rush.
I cruise down Bella's street and park across the street from the house. Charlie's just walking out with his coffee and stack of case files, uniform untucked. I slip on the black tank strewn somewhere in the backseat.
He stops when I get out and cross the street. "Morning"
I salute him with a nod. "Charlie"
He raises his eyebrows at me. "Isn't it a bit too early for you to be pulling up?" He takes a gulp. "Don't you have school or something?"
I shrug. "Charlie, I graduated three months ago"
He shrugs. "Well, there's that"
I nod and glance up to the house. "Is she up yet?"
He shrugs. "Yeah, she was in the kitchen when I came down. Watching TV or something" He starts to walk to his car. "Just knock on the door"
"Cool, thanks"
He waves the hand with the case files behind him and gets in. His tires crunch up the gravel as he peels out. "Finally got a shirt on for once…" He mutters.
I saunter up the steps and knock on the door. "Bella, bella, bella…" I beat on the door.
After a moment, she opens the door in a long sleeve shirt and basketball shorts. Her hairs a mess, but that's either here or there. "Jacob, nice to see you so early?" She squints at me in the light. "Come on in" She walks off and I follow her in.
"What's going on?" I ask, moving with her into the kitchen.
"Nothing, just scrambling some eggs and bacon, probably some biscuits. Want some? Don't answer that" She whips her eggs in a cup and pours them into the skillet. A pack of sausages sit on the counter.
"Awe, you don't have to…"
She rolls her eyes and purses her lips. "Whatever, like you ate already" She scrambles the eggs and glances back at me. "Cheese?"
I lull my head. "Sure, why not"
She nods and adds a few slices to the eggs and lets it melt. She lays the bacon out in the skillet. "Though I'm not surprised by the early morning visit, this is out of the norm for you, so what's up?"
I sit in the chair at the table. "You have no idea…"
She glances back at me. "I'm listening"
I smile. "I'd actually prefer to tell you after you've finished handling my food"
"Wise choice" She turns and scrambles the rest of the eggs. She takes two plates out and steps to the fridge. "Orange juice, water…beer or…soda?"
"Orange juice will suffice for now" I smile.
She smirks and takes out the juice, butter, and jelly, and checks the eggs and plates them. The bacon sizzles and she checks the oven for the biscuits. She shuts the door and it sends a wave of smells throughout the room.
She grabs two plastic cups from last night and fills em up to the brim. "Yeah, that's enough" I joke.
She rolls her eyes. "Enough is never enough for you" She slides the butter and jelly on the table.
"True shit"
She checks the biscuits and pulls them out. She places two on her plate and four on mine. "Oh, you're too kind"
She giggles. She drains the bacon and adds it too the plates. "So…" She comes to the table, sets down the plates, and sits. "What's this new story of yours?"
"Give me a minute to inhale my food first" I cut open the biscuits and add some butter and jelly everywhere. The bacon's extra crispy and the eggs are right with just the right amount of salt and pepper.
She munches on her bacon. "Mhm, and we're gonna talk about last night, too"
I look up from my plate. "What was last night…?"
She raises her eyebrows. "You and Edward"
Oh.
"One minute you two look like your about to kill each other, and when I come back, your all cool and mellow" She narrows her gaze. "What was that about?"
I shrug. "Well, to answer that, I'd have to tell you what I have to tell you first" I actually don't feel nervous as I thought I would.
She takes a bite of her biscuit and gives me a look. "I'm still listening"
I exhale. I shovel some eggs in my mouth and crunch up three slices of bacon. I swallow it all down with some juice and look at her expecting eyes. "I…imprinted"
It settles in. Her face does this thing where her eyebrow raise some and her mouth starts to form a smile and her cheeks flush. "What?" She sits back in the chair. "What, really?" She's beyond excited. "When? And how come you didn't tell me?"
I shrug and lean back in the chair. "I mean, it's not something…you know"
She rolls her eyes. "Chea, as if" She pulls her leg up in the chair. "That's…wow. Congrats"
I don't feel congratulatory. "Yeah…"
She cranes her neck with thin lips. "Well…who is she?"
I sigh. That question. "Well…it's actually…a guy"
Her smile fades some and she chews on her biscuit. "Wait…you guys can do that? Imprint on guys?"
I shrug smugly. "Allegedly. Seth asked the same question"
She stops chewing. "So…you told Seth before me" She's serious, but that playful serious.
"I mean, I could also point out that you and Edward have almost had sex on several occasions and not a word was uttered to me" I fire back.
She nods. "Touché" She sips at her juice. "So who's the lucky guy?"
I exhale. Now that anxiety is building in my chest. "Promise me you won't flip…"
She sets down her cup. "Uh…I promise I won't flip, now spit it out" She eats some eggs.
I chew on my lip. "It's Emmett…Cullen"
She stops chewing completely and drops her fork. All traces of hysteria are gone. "You've got to be kidding me"
I sigh. I want to leave. "Bella, don't, I…"
Her face softens. "No, no just…" She reaches her hand across the table and lays it over mine. "I'm just saying…I really don't know what I'm saying" Her eyes wander. "Can…I don't know…I guess I'm wondering if that can actually happen?" Her face is curiosity stricken. "Can werewolves imprint on vampires?"
I exhale. "I don't…"I shrug helplessly. "I don't even know, but…everything just…" I look around for words.
She stares me down softly. "Okay" She stands and grabs her plate and cup. "C'mon" I take mine and follow her into the living room. She sets her plate and cup on the table and sits, folding her legs underneath her. "Okay, just…fill me in on everything. How it came about, what triggered it" I set my food down and sit next to her. "Just start from the beginning"
I sit back in the cushions that smell like old cigarettes and grease. "Okay. Uhm…okay, remember Alice's birthday party?"
Bella drops a deadpan expression. "Alice's party? Why is that even a question?" She shudders and rubs her eyes.
"Yeah, hate to bring it up, but…"
Alice's birthday extravaganza was very, very overwhelming.
Bell's invited me a few days before and initially I said no, but the birthday girl herself gave me the ultimate ultimatum. Either show up or have a certain body part dismembered, one of my favorites actually.
Wouldn't miss it for the world.
For some odd reason, I went with the perception that it would be a simple gathering at some type venue with classical music playing and champagne being twirled around and everybody walking around in 1930's ball gowns.
How about no. Hell to the no.
This Project X party was everything but.
Bella and I heard the music before we even hit the driveway. It was a warm night in the middle of July, but the Cullen's house was lit up like it Christmas.
From the outside, it looked crowded, but inside is an entirely different story.
Music pounds from everywhere, like literally six or seven amps strewn throughout the house. Strobe lights and black lights are flickering and making everybody look like their moving in slow motion. Balloons float everywhere, in every shape, size and color. And it was hot as hell.
People are freaking everywhere! Looks like all of Forks High, some kids from Seattle, probably a handful of Cali kids.
And then the birthday girl herself twirled out of nowhere.
She's over the top excited. "You made it!" She screams over the music. She gives Bella a smooth hug and then attempted to crush the wind out of me.
"Yeah…" I look around. "Sure didn't want to miss this…"
She rolls her eyes. "Oh, Jake…" Her eyes flit to the small gift bags in our hands. "Oh, you didn't!"
I almost think she's about to reach for it, so I try and meet her halfway only to get a smack on the hands. A very hard one at that. "What the f-"
"No, no. You know how birthdays go" She says dead serious. "All gifts are being collected in the atrium, so if you would be so kind-" She pauses when a song starts to play with a sick beat, but crappy lyrics. "OMG! This is my favorite song right now!" She squeals. "Okay, let's go!" She laughs, dragging Bella and I with her.
This party is hot. Everybody's grinding up on somebody and there's a twerk-off going on to my right.
I start to stray but then nails are digging into my arm. "Oww!"
Bella's face says it all. Don't you dare leave me!
I snatch away and feel my skin heal. I freaking hate being the loyal best friend sometimes. Alice starts to whine her hips t the song and tries to coax Bella into it.
My stomach growls. "Alice!" She spins to me. "Where's the food?!"
She smirks. "What? Everywhere!" On the floor, on tables, people
…right. "Uh…something sanitary and now soaking in sweat would be nice?"
She rolls her eyes. "Head out back. Carlisle is on the grill" She starts dancing again.
I look around for the hallway that leads past the Kitchen. I swear there's no such thing. "Where?!"
She stops dancing and sucks her teeth. "You are such a party pooper, I swear…" She turns around, her silver vest glittering. "Emmett!"
I follow her gaze. "Shit"
Emmett Cullen sat on the edge of the second set of stairs leading up with his feet dangling off. He sees Alice and nods at her before gulping his red cup down. He materializes in front of us with a qwerky glance around.
"What?" He asks, semi-hugging Bella. He turns his sights on me and instantly sneers.
"Problem?" I ask. I mean…
"You tell me" Is his reply. His eyes are cold in the heated room.
"Boys!" Alice shouts, a hand on each of us. "Emmett, could you do me a favor and show Jake the deck, please? Thaaaaaaaanks, you're a peach!" Bella flashes a sheepish grin before they spin away.
"Wha-" He watches her go before rolling his eyes. "Fuck"
I take in his entire assemble. Grey polo shirt, denim jeans, and pearly white adidas. Typical Jock.
He glares in pure disgust. "Whenever you're ready, princess"
"Lead the way, my fair lady" He rolls his eyes and we move throughout the house, to the Kitchen and onto the back Patio.
He mugs the hell out of me before he slips back inside the house.
Whatever, can't stand him no how.
I look around. It's definitely more serene than inside. The Deck stretches alongside the entire back of the house and then winds down into the yard to an even bigger Patio with tables and chairs and light lining the overheard wooden fencing. There's a few people here and there on the lower level.
The sizzle of burgers and hotdogs draws me back to the top deck. There's Carlisle on the grill, Esme serving drinks, and Edward leaning against the railing staring and looing morbid as ever.
"Is there a problem?" I can't help it. Regardless of what we go through and who our mutual friend is, we will always be enemies.
He shrugs. "A neglected animal"
"Hm" My lip twitches. "Wanna test that out?"
"Hey, you two" Esme says as she strolls over in a blue dress. "Be nice"
Edward sighs. "Sorry" He turns his stone cold face back to me. "Is Bella with Alice?"
Before I can even answer, he's walking inside. "Of course she is"
I roll my eyes.
Esme smiles. "I'm glad you came" She leans in for a hug.
I don't mind giving in to her. She's sweet, reminds me of my Mom some. "Yeah, well, I didn't have much of a choice"
She nods gracefully. "Yeah, well, I do apologize for that. Alice can be quite persuasive"
I chuckle. "I'll bet"
She smiles again and rubs her hands together. "So, would you like something to eat? We have burgers, hotdogs, pasta salads, Panini's, a whole smorgasbord really" She leads me over to a long table covered with miles and miles of food.
She sees the hesitation in my expression. She leans in. "Don't worry, it's catered" She whispers.
I can't help but smile. "I trust you" She always tries her best to cater my needs, but it's the other ones I have to look out for.
She smiles and hands me a plate. "Go for it" She pats my shoulder and strolls away.
I pile my plate high with everything. No limits. I snatch a sprite and have a seat a one of the tables strewn about.
Carlisle raises his eyebrows when he comes from inside the Kitchen with raw steaks and chicken. "Enjoying the food, I see"
I swallow the deviled eggs and beans. "Second time I've eaten today"
He nods and lays the meats on the grill before wiping his hands and shaking mine. "I appreciate you celebrating with us"
I press my lips together. "Well, you know me. Where there is food, I will come" '
He chuckles and turns back to the grill. "I'll keep that in mind"
The volume of the party rises inside. People are cheering and booing, laughing and fussing.
I sigh. "Ever going to let her do this again?"
He chuckles again. "No, not while we're in the area" He throws a quick glance around. "We don't need the publicity" He glances at his watch. "It's almost time"
Esme walks to his side. "Did you reach Jasper?"
"A few minutes ago. He should be pulling up any second now"
I'm lost. "Almost time for what?"
"Sing happy birthday and Alice's cake" Esme answers.
Cake? "But, I thought…"
"Well, we don't, but with appearances and all" She smile sweetly at a few teens that pass.
"Ah" I nod. I demolish the rest of my plate in one sitting and stand. Bathroom.
"Oh, and Jacob, could you do me one small favor?"
I spin. "Sure"
"Could you head upstairs and tell Rosalie to come down now, please?"
"Uhm…sure thing" Sure, send me up with the homicidal blonde who hates my guts.
She smiles. "Thanks" She rubs my arm. "And hurry"
I head back into the house, swimming through girls and guys. I glance around and finally see Bella with Edward and Alice.
Everyone's laughing for some reason. Edward has that crooked smile on his face that I could run over with a car.
"What happened?" I ask.
Bella gives a nervous laugh. "Remember Jess, my friend from school?"
I nod. I see a group of girls comforting on who looks extremely embarrassed.
"She was dancing with a few people and she had a drink in her hand. Emmett walks by and tries to squeeze past her, but she thought he wanted a lap dance, so…"
"She spilled her drink all over him" Alice says, not even looking away from her. I can't tell if she feels sympathy or is hot from the fact that none of the attention is on her. "Poor child…" She walks over and talks to her.
"Wow" That would have been the icing on the cake of the night. I reluctantly look at Edward. "Where's Blondie? Esme wants her down"
His eyes flicker to me. "Up the first flight of stairs, make a left. Third room on the right. Fetch Emmett while your up there, will ya"
I brush past him and shove through the crowd to the stairs. The third door is ajar in the well-lit hallway. Before I even attempt to knock, the door swings open instantly.
Key in dramatic exhale.
"Ew, I was wondering why I smelled rabid puppies" Rosalie says, leaning against the door frame. She looks at her nails and a nail file appears.
"How about I just slam your face into the basement?" I cross my arms. "Sounds lovely?"
She rolls her eyes. "What do you want?"
"Not you"
"Clearly" She brushes a nail.
"Whatever. Their singing happy birthday in a few, Esme wants you downstairs"
She rolls her eyes and exhales. "Course she does…" She blurs to the mirror in the room for a last second check-up and then slowly struts past me and down the hall.
I watch her go, unfortunately. To be as honest, if she wasn't the Queen of all Bitches and didn't smell like a thousand year old death, I would possibly ask her out.
"And if you're looking for Emmett, he's in our bedroom getting another shirt" She says over her shoulder. "But you can smell him, can't you, Frodo?"
A growl leaves my throat.
She blows a kiss and steps down the stairs.
Well, all the doors in this side of the hallway are either closed or wide open and pitch black, so…
"Where the hell is the bedroom…?"
A door opens from somewhere down the hall, followed by a silent "Fuck!"
That would be him. Hm, odd that they have two separate rooms.
I throw a glance down the stairs as I pass. Jasper walks past with a huge cake, I mean, a freaking enormous cake that's at least a few heads taller than him. There's pictures and clapping. I turn back to the hall.
There's only one door wide open to my right. I knock before I look in.
"What?"
Emmett stands there half turned towards the closet, half turned towards me. His upper body is completely naked and pale, and his muscles are smooth and bulky. His jeans sag a little off of his waist, the space between his…
I look up at his face. His eyebrows are furrowed, but perfect and…his eyes are a burning spicy topaz that are glaring at me.
"The fuck are you staring at?"
I don't even feel my heart beating anymore. Am I even breathing?
Everything around me seems to just disappear. The people downstairs, the lights, just…
There's just him, standing half naked and looking at me flustered and angry and…and…
It's…it's like seeing the Sun for the first time. Feeling the warm rays on my skin and the bright light in my eyes and…
No.
"No…"
He turns his entire body towards me, one of his eyebrows rising. "What the fuck are you looking at?" There's an emphasis on each word.
They feel like bullets.
No…I…
I didn't!
I turn and run down the hall and down the stairs. I'm brushing past people, feeling resistance, but I can't stop moving. I need to leave.
I have to get out of here.
Their singing Happy Birthday and I can hear Bella call after me, but I don't stop.
I freaking can't!
I rush outside and as soon as I get into the trees lining the house, I phase. I don't care who sees me.
His body…his face…
I tear through the trees. I need to see Sam now!
"So…" Bella stammers, reeling me back in. "Did you find him?" She asks, braiding her hair and unbraiding tediously.
I sigh. "Great way to ruin a story. I'm getting there, just, hold your horses"
She slouches back in the couch and raises her hands in defense. "Sorry. Continue"
Everything turns into a blur as I race past the border.
What the…what the fuck!? No fucking way did I just imprint? I know I didn't! What the fuck!?
I thunder towards his house. As soon as I get to his front yard, I phase and jump onto his porch.
I bang on the door. "Sam! Sam!"
He answers the door a second later. "Jake? What's wrong?" He looks at me hard and looks past me.
"I gotta…I don't know, I…" I can't even get it out. My face feels hot. "I…"
"Hey, hey, take it slow" He opens the door some more. "C'mon in"
I start to step in, but then I see Emily at the table. There's two wine glasses, two nice plates of food, and candles. She stands concerned. "You alright?" She has a nice evening dress on.
I look at Sam. He's dressed as nice as financially possible, a simple black button down and jeans.
Fuck. Their on a date.
"Jake?" Sam calls, his hand on my shoulder.
"No…uhm…I'm sorry, I didn't…" The fuck, Jacob! How could I forget?
"No, no, it's fine" Em says stepping closer. She has makeup and perfume on, too. "What's wrong?"
I shake my head. "No…I'm sorry, I'll…" I take a step back from the porch. Sam follows. "No, I'm fine, just…sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt your night"
"Jake, what's wrong…" Sam asks again. He does look rather nice.
"Nothing, I'll just…I'll see you guys tomorrow…"
He and Em share a look and she steps back inside, her worried eyes on me. He looks at me hard and steps down a step. "Jacob, what's wrong? You don't just run her screaming and banging, what's wrong?"
I shake my head. "Nothing" I put on my best face, even though it's killing me. "It's fine. Enjoy your night"
He stares and then sighs. He glances up at the moon and then back to me. "Okay…" He exhales. "I'll see you in the morning…"
I nod and turn to go. He stands there to watch me go for a few seconds before turning back inside.
"I hated that I messed up that night for them" I tell Bella.
She sits attentively. "So you didn't tell him?"
I shrug. "I mean, it was their date night and I completely forgot, so I just barged in on them, like, that was rude as fuck" I scratch my head. "And to this day, he does not know"
She sits quietly for a second and then thinks better. "How do you think he'll take it?"
I can't help but chuckle at that. "I don't know…kick me out of the pack or something, I don't know" Her expression deadpans. "I'm serious! I don't know. He'd tell Billy for sure and I don't know what he'd do, but…" I shrug. My head falls back on the couch and I look up at the ceiling at the old light.
"Jake…c'mon, you can't believe that…" She says, her smooth, cool hand hold my forearm. "Sam loves you. The pack, they love you and you better damn well believe that Billy loves you" She says. "Will you look at me?"
I reluctantly obey.
"They will always love you, no matter what" She's so serious. "Uhm…remember when you told me Quill imprinted on Emily's two year old niece, Claire?"
"Yeah…" I nod. "Emily almost killed him"
"And did they exile him from the pack because of it? No. Why? Because they understand an imprint is something you can't control" She says. "I mean, sure, Emily probably tore him apart, but he's still your pack brother. Besides, Billy wouldn't dare do anything but love you. You're all he's got" She rubs my back now.
I sigh. Maybe she's right, you know? But…
My eyes fall from hers to the forgotten food. "But…" I can feel my eyebrows shift. "Sam and the guys and Billy will love me regardless, but...what about Emmett?"
She's staring and thinking of the right words to say. "Well…That may be a mystery, but we'll figure it out" She touches my arm again. "We will"
I look at her. She's really something. She does the weird thing where her mouth turns up on the corner and then the rest of her face lightens up as she smiles. She lifts her eyebrows.
I smile tiredly. "Thanks, Bells. You've literally taken such a weight off of my shoulders. Like, now, I feel like I can truly breathe again…"
She leans in and hugs me. "Yeah, it's what best friends do…" Her hug doesn't last too long, but she just slouches on me when we separate. "It's what we're here for…"
I smile. Moment's like these…
We sit in silence just staring out the living room window.
"So…when will we tell him?"
It tumbles around in my thoughts. "Soon"
She nods into my shoulder.
"But only if you're there with me…"
She smiles up at me. "I'll be right next to you every step of the way"
This was initially divided into two separate chapters due to the ideas of the second part coming after the first half was published. Shrug. I guess it was something to look forward to, but it was really pointless.
Hope you liked the back story! Please shoot me a review!
- Wallabyway.
