Song for this chapter - youtube dot com/watch?v=keU0QWGznMw&feature=autoplay&list=PLFEB7378345B0F39F&index=22&playnext=1

Chapter 4 - IMPRINTING

"Are you okay, Jake? Charlie said you were having a hard time . . . Isn't it getting any better?"

I wrapped my fingers a little tighter around her hand. "'S not so bad," I lied and avoided looking at her face so she wouldn't see the real pain that I felt.

I walked slowly back to our drift wood tree looking down at the pebbles beneath my feet. I could feel Bella following along and a slight tugging on her hand, maybe I was walking a little too fast. She sat down on the tree and I choose the ground next to her, I didn't want to be far away, but was uncomfortable for her to see my true feelings. Her soft hand felt great in mine and I kept it wrapped around my own.

"It's been so long since I was here. I've probably missed a ton of things. How are Sam and Emily? And Embry? Did Quil –?" She babbled.

"Ah, Quil," I sighed.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

I snorted. "Don't say that to him."

"What do you mean?"

"Quil's not looking for pity. Just the opposite – he's jazzed. Totally thrilled."

"Huh?" Bella asked confused.

I lifted my head to look at her face and smile, thinking about Quil I couldn't help but roll my eyes as if he were standing right here. "Quil thinks it's the coolest thing that's ever happened to him. Part of it is finally knowing what's going on. And he's excited to have his friends back – to be part of the 'in crowd.'" I snorted again. "Shouldn't be surprised, I guess. It's so Quil."

"He likes it?"

"Honestly . . . most of them do," I admitted slowly. "There are definitely good sides to this – the speed, the freedom, the strength . . . the sense of – of family . . . Sam and I are the only ones who ever felt really bitter. And Sam got past that a long time ago. So I'm the crybaby now." I laughed, I can't believe I just admitted that.

"Why are you and Sam different? What happened to Sam anyways? What's his problem?" She asked so quickly that I wasn't sure which to answer first.

"That's a long story."

"I told you a long story. Besides, I'm not in any hurry to get back," She said, and then I saw her grimace at the thought of going back.

It easily caught my attention. "Will he be mad at you?"

"Yes," she admitted. "He really hates it when I do things he considers . . . risky."

That is so ironic coming from a vampire. "Like hanging out with werewolves."

"Yeah."

I shrugged. "So don't go back. I'll sleep on the couch." It was nice to actually be able to offer her to live here instead of her trying to get me to move in for a change.

"That's a great idea," she grumbled. "Because then he would come looking for me."

I stiffened surprised by her answer, I know I had a wicked smile but it couldn't be helped. "Would he?"

"If he was afraid I was hurt or something – probably."

"My idea's sounding better all the time."

"Please, Jake, that really bugs me."

"What does?"

"That you two are so ready to kill each other!" She complained. "It makes me crazy. Why can't you both just be civilized?"

"Is he ready to kill me?" I asked with a grin, I saw her anger but it didn't really phase me.

"Not like you seem to be!" she yelled. "At least he can be a grown-up about this. He knows that hurting you would hurt me – and so he never would. You don't seem to care about that at all!"

It always seems to amaze me how she can see him so perfectly. "Yeah, right," I muttered. "I'm sure he's quite the pacifist."

"Ugh!" She ripped her hand from mine and shoved my head away as she pulled her legs up to her chest wrapping her arms around herself. If I couldn't clearly see that it was from anger it probably would have freaked me out to see her curl up on herself like she used to do when she was sad and hurting. I let her have a moment and then got up and sat next to her on the tree, I hated to see her so upset. I placed my arm around her shoulders and she shrugged it off, I guess I deserved that, but the rejection still hurt.

"Sorry," I said quietly. "I'll try to behave myself." She didn't answer so I decided to try and change subjects. "Do you still want to hear about Sam?"

She shrugged.

"Like I said, it's a long story. And very . . . strange. There's so many strange things about this new life. I haven't had time to tell you the half of it. And this thing with Sam – well, I don't know if I'll even be able to explain it right."

"I'm listening," she said stiffly.

I decided it would be best to start at the beginning so I told her about how Sam was all alone when he phased for the first time. How he didn't have near the support system that the rest of us had. She was naturally surprised to learn that Sam had been with Leah before Emily, it was a complicated situation, trying to explain it was even more difficult.

I thought it was a little strange that Bella wouldn't understand how Mr. Ateara would know that Sam was a wolf by touching him, she is normally really bright and catches on easily. I placed my hand on her cheek turning her face even to my own, we were only inches apart. I could feel the heat of my hand pouring into her cold skin.

"Oh, right," she said. "Sam was running a temperature."

I laughed. "Sam's hand felt like he'd left it sitting on a hot stove top." I always loved the feel of her soft skin and loved the cold feel. Her face was so close to my own that she could probably feel my breath as I spoke. She reached out and took my hand from her face and interlaced our fingers together. It was a nice gesture, however I knew that it was from being too close and not that she really wanted to hold my hand. Regardless it still felt great to have her here again, so I leaned back giving her a little space and decided to continue my story.

I probably should have left the Cullens out of the story, but they are the reason that we become werewolves in the first place.

"The Cullens had no idea," she whispered. "They didn't think that werewolves still existed here. They didn't know that coming here would change you."

It was really irritating how easily she defended them. "It doesn't change the fact that it did."

"Remind me not to get on your bad side."

"You think I should be as forgiving as you are? We can't all be saints and martyrs."

"Grow up, Jacob."

"I wish I could," I murmured quietly.

She gave me the strangest look, like I had suddenly spoken a different language. "What?"

I chuckled. "One of those many strange things I mentioned."

"You . . . can't . . . grow up? You're what? Not . . . aging? Is that a joke?"

"Nope." I said, my lips popping on the P. Suddenly her face turned completely red, tears filled her eyes, and her teeth ground together. It was the strangest thing I have ever seen. "Bella? What did I say?"

She leaped to her feet, with her hands clinched and her whole body shaking, for a moment she looked just like me when angry. "You. Are. Not. Aging," she growled.

I couldn't believe Bella just growled at me. I reached my hand out tugging on her to get her to sit back down. "None of us are. What is wrong with you?"

"Am I the only one who has to get old? I get older every stinking day!" she snapped while throwing her hands up in the air and stomping around. "Damn it! What kind of world is this? Where's the justice?"

"Take it easy, Bella?"

"Shut up, Jacob. Just shut up! This is so unfair!"

"Did you seriously just stamp your foot? I thought girls only did that on TV." Had I been watching this from a distance I think watching her would have been the funniest thing I have ever seen, but being right here I had no idea what the problem was. "It's not as bad as you seem to think it is. Sit down and I'll explain."

"I'll stand."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay. Whatever you want. But listen, I will get older . . . someday."

"Explain."

I patted the tree next to me as she glowered at me. Suddenly she seemed to realize the foolish scene she was making and sat.

I explained to her that we would start aging again once we gain enough control to stop phasing. It is so strange how sometimes I feel that Bella just doesn't really see me, there is no way that I look like a sixteen year old kid. And I thought that trying to explain imprinting was going to be difficult, who knew that not aging would have been such a land mine. Go figure, the girl who is great about vampires and werewolves has issues with age of all things.

I brought the conversation back to Sam once again to explain what I thought was going to be the complicated part of my story. I explained that Sam and Leah were trying to work things out, until Emily came to visit. Naturally she was shocked and it made sense for her to cast blame on Sam.

"Don't judge him just yet. Did anyone ever tell you . . ." Man this crap is hard to explain. "Have you ever heard of imprinting?"

"Imprinting?" She repeated. "No. What's that mean?"

"It's one of those bizarre things we have to deal with. It doesn't happen to everyone. In fact, it's the rare exception, not the rule. Sam had heard all the stories by then, the stories we all used to think were legends. He'd heard of imprinting, but he never dreamed . . ."

"What is it?" She prodded.

I looked out at the ocean. "Sam did love Leah. But when he saw Emily, that didn't matter anymore. Sometimes . . . we don't exactly know why . . . we find our mates that way." My eye flashing back to her, man it was awkward talking about and I could feel my cheek redden despite my best efforts. "I mean . . . our soul mates." God this is so embarrassing.

"What way? Love at first sight?" She snickered.

I scowled irritated that she wasn't taking this more seriously. "It's a little bit more powerful than that. More absolute."

"Sorry," she muttered. "You're serious, aren't you."

"Yeah, I am."

"Love at first sigh? But more powerful?" She said back still confused.

"It is not easy to explain. It doesn't matter, anyways." I shrugged, it really wasn't an important detail. "You wanted to know what happened to Sam to make him hate the vampires for changing him, to make him hate himself. And that's what happened. He broke Leah's heart. He went back on every promise he'd ever made her. Every day he has to see the accusation in her eyes, and know that she's right." Oh crap, I shouldn't have said 'every day'. I really hope she doesn't ask why Sam still sees Leah every day, that could be really bad.

"How did Emily deal with this? If she was so close to Leah . . .?"

Man I was so glad that we sailed right past that awkward moment, unfortunately it was right into another one. I explained how Emily felt and that her accident helped bring Sam and Emily together. It seemed that Bella was starting to get the powerful affect that imprinting has on the wolf. I should have seen her question coming, and maybe part of me did the way she wouldn't look me in the eyes I could tell that she was thinking.

"Did it happen to you?" She finally asked, without looking at my face. "This love-at-first-sight thing?"

"No," I answered briskly. "Sam and Jared are the only ones."

"Hmm." Really Bella is that all you have to say. I watched her face and saw the relief and it hurt that she didn't want to have that connection with me. I hadn't really thought a lot about imprinting, sure it would have been great if it was with Bella, but I didn't really think it was going to happen so I hadn't really wanted it either way. But now I wondered if things would actually go my way, if I had.

"How did that work out for Jared?" She asked, breaking me from my thoughts.

"No drama there." I told her about Kim's crush on Jared and it was cute that she didn't like that Jared had told me.

"Oh, yeah. You can hear each other's thoughts, but only when you're wolves, right?"

"Right. Just like your bloodsucker." I grumbled, not really sure why I brought him up.

"Edward," she corrected.

"Sure, sure. That's how come I know so much about how Sam felt. It's not like he would have told us all that if he'd had a choice. Actually, that's something we all hate." I added bitterly. "No privacy, no secrets. Everything you're ashamed of, laid out for everyone to see." I shuddered.

"It sounds horrible," she whispered.

"It is sometimes helpful when we need to coordinate. Once in a blue moon, when some bloodsucker comes into our territory. Laurent was fun. And if the Cullens hadn't gotten in the way last Saturday . . . ugh" I groaned. "We could have had her!" I clinched my fists angrily. I saw her flinch and then shudder, it was confusing. She didn't think I would hurt her, did she?

"But isn't it like that for you all the time? Having him in your head?"

"Oh no. Edward's never in my head. He only wishes." I looked at her confused, that is weird, I can't seem to get him out of my head. "He can't hear me, I'm the only one like that, for him. We don't know why he can't," she explained smugly.

"Weird," I said, not really knowing what more to say.

"Yeah, it probably means there's something wrong with my brain," she admitted.

"I already knew there was something wrong with your brain," I muttered, she walked right into that one.

"Thanks."

It was really nice to be so relaxed and calm with one another. The sun broke through the clouds and it was really bright and we both squinted while our eyes adjusted to the world around us. I watched the waves as they came and went, back and forth, back and forth. I leaned into Bella resting against her arm, after a few minutes she removed her jacket and I rested my cheek on her head. It was such a simple gesture that it reminded me of how we used to be.

"What are you thinking about?" I murmured.

"The sun."

"Mmm. It's nice."

"What are you thinking about?" She asked.

I chuckled to myself. "I was remembering that moronic movie you took me to. And Mike Newton puking all over everything." We both laughed together and it was great to be able to laugh again. "I miss that. The way it used to be so easy . . . uncomplicated. I'm glad I've got a good memory." I sighed.

Instantly I felt her stiffen next to me. "What is it?" I asked, confused.

"About that good memory of yours . . ." She pulled away and looked into my face. "Do you mind telling me what you were doing Monday morning? You were thinking something that bothered Edward."

Ah, yes of course, I laughed. "I was just thinking about you. Didn't like that much, did he?"

"Me? What about me?"

I remembered Edward's pained expression and laughed harder. I told her how I was thinking about Sam's memory of when he found her, and how she looked when she came here, and how sad she was.

She smacked my shoulder, and I probably wouldn't have known if I hadn't seen her hit me. "Jacob Black, don't you ever do that again! Promise me you won't."

"No way. I haven't had that much fun in months."

"So help me, Jake –"

"Oh, get a grip, Bella. When am I ever going to see him again? Don't worry about it."

She quickly got up from the tree and I grabbed her hand before she could get very far. She tried to tug free, but that wasn't happening.

"I'm leaving, Jacob."

"No, don't go yet," I protested. What have I done? I had no idea she would be that insulted, and I gripped her hand so she couldn't leave. "I'm sorry. And . . . okay, I won't do it again. Promise." Like I said, when would I ever get to do that again, much more important to keep Bella happy.

She sighed. "Thanks, Jake."

"Come on, we'll go back to my house," I said eager to change subjects and do something else.

"Actually, I think I really do need to go. Angela Weber is expecting me and I know Alice is worried. I don't want to upset her too much."

"But you just got here!"

"It feels that way," she agreed. I saw her look up at the sky and could see that the sun was overheard indicating that more time had passed than it felt like.

I didn't like the idea of her leaving. "I don't know when I'll see you again." I tried to keep the pain out of my voice, but I know I failed horribly.

"I'll come back the next time he's away," she promised.

"Away?" I rolled my eyes. "That's a nice way to describe what he's doing. Disgusting parasites."

"If you can't be nice, I won't come back at all!" She threatened, and tried to pull her hand from mine, which I didn't let go of.

"Aw, don't be mad," I said grinning. "Knee-jerk reaction."

"If I'm going to try to come back again, you're going to have to get something straight, okay?"

I waiting for her to explain herself.

"See, I don't care who's a vampire and who's a werewolf. That's irrelevant. You are Jacob, and he is Edward, and I am Bella. And nothing else matters."

No way, she is that ignorant. "But I am a werewolf," I said unwillingly. "And he is a vampire," disgusting tick.

"And I'm a Virgo!" She shouted.

I couldn't believe that she really thought of us that way and I watched her face. She was such a terrible liar that I knew that her thoughts would be easy to read. It seemed true and I shrugged, not really able to understand it. "If you can really see it that way . . ."

"I can. I do."

"Okay. Just Bella and Jacob. None of those freaky Virgos here." I smiled, her smile and she smiled back at me.

"I've really missed you, Jake." She admitted.

That is exactly what I needed to hear. Bella missed me! "Me, too." I could feel my smile widen even greater, but I didn't care. "More than you know. Will you come back soon?"

"As soon as I can," she promised.

FACTS:

- Shame on you SM for not having them hug at the end of this! This is such a hug moment and it drives me insane that she didn't put it in there. If he hugs her when she gets there than it makes perfect sense for them to hug when she leaves.