4. DAY OFF

After I found Uncle Jazz and got a nice dose of a chill pill, I met up with Jake in the kitchen for breakfast. I didn't even have to explain to Jasper what I had wanted. He could feel my mood before I even got into the house. He had seemed a little concerned about what could make me feel that way, but I said to him, "Trust me. You don't want to know." And he didn't press the subject farther. I figured he could hear in my voice that this was something he could go without knowing, and was better off if he did.

Today was Saturday, so Jake didn't have to rush off to school like usual. When I got to the kitchen, Jake and a plate of food were waiting for me.

"Feelin' better?" Jake chuckled.

"Yeah. Much better." I sat down and started eating and Jake did the same.

We were both nearly done eating now and neither of us had said a word since we had started, I figured it was just because we were eating; at least that's why I hadn't said anything. But then when I looked at Jake it looked like he was having an internal debate about something.

"Is something wrong?" I asked him, somewhat worriedly.

"Hmm?" He looked up from his plate. He must have been in deep thought because he honestly sounded like he hadn't heard what I had said.

"Is something wrong?" I repeated, raising my eyebrows.

"No," he answered. "Well, not exactly. I mean- I wouldn't say wrong." I had never heard Jake seem so… evasive.

"You lost me," I confessed.

He sighed. "It's about this morning."

"Oh, God," I moaned. "Can we please just act like that didn't happen?" I still didn't even fully understand the whole situation myself; it was like Mom and Dad knew that Jake and I were going to end up together when I didn't even know it myself. I would think that Alice had seen something, but she can't see mine and Jake's futures so that couldn't be it. I wanted to understand, but I also didn't want to talk to Mom and Dad abut this.

"Ness, I really think we should talk about it."

I sighed. "I know, we should."

He seemed surprised that I was agreeing with him so easily; I was usually the one to put up a fight.

"But not now," I added. I couldn't think about this anymore today. I could already feel my anxiety coming back; where was Jazz when I needed him? I needed time to think about it on my own before I talked to anyone else about it; especially Jacob. I mean, we weren't just talking about me getting pregnant. There was another topic that went along with it that was a little unavoidable; people just don't get pregnant, so this meant we were also talking about my- virginity. Ugh! I just couldn't think about this right now. The whole thing was just too- weird, invasive, awkward? I didn't know the right word for it. This wasn't a situation that normal people would find themselves in.

Just then a wave of calm washed through me, a kind of calm that was unnatural in my current state.

"Thanks, Jazz," I said. I didn't know where he was, but I knew he would hear me; if he was close enough to use his power on me, he was close enough to hear me.

"No problem," I heard him say from upstairs.

Jake realized what was going on and said, "Okay. Not today." he agreed. "So, what do you want to do today then?"

"Hmm…." I pondered. I really just wanted to get out of the house; get away from my family was more like it. "How 'bout-" I pondered for another moment. "The beach?" I was referring to La Push Beach, of course. It was the only beach we ever went to.

"The beach sounds good to me," Jake agreed easily.

"Do you mind if we visit Charlie while we're there?" I knew he wouldn't mind. Jake wasn't the kind to mind about anything. He just went with the flow and laid back as he enjoyed the ride.

"As long as you don't mind if we visit Billy?" he joked. He knew that I wouldn't mind either. We did this as often as we could, go back to our old home to visit our family; we knew the routine by now.

Jasper was suddenly in the room with us. He was leaning against the kitchen doorway with his arms folded across his chest.

"Are you sure you'll be alright without me?" he asked.

"I'll manage," I said with a nod.

"You're sure?" he asked again.

"As long as the topic of this morning doesn't come up again." I confirmed, looking at Jake when I said this.

"Promise," he said. "I won't bring it up until you're ready to talk about it."

"Then I'll be fine." I said looking back at Jazz to answer his question.

He raised his eyebrows, and I knew what he wanted.

I sighed. "If you really want to know you can ask Bella or Edward," I told him. Then I thought about it for a moment. "Actually, Alice would have probably seen this one," I chuckled. "You can ask her."

He nodded his head, but before he could run off I stopped him.

"Oh, and Jasper?"

"Yes?"

"Don't tell anywhere where we're going."

He smiled. "Anyone being your mom and dad in particular?"

"Yeah," I answered with a smile.

He ran off then, probably to find Alice.

I turned back to Jake then, and his plate was empty. I laughed.

"What?" he asked.

"Do you ever not finish all of your food?"

He laughed. "Nope. I always clean my plate. Us werewolves have an unquenchable appetite."

"I've noticed," I laughed back. "So, are you ready to leave then?"

"Sure, sure."

"Wanna race?"

"What?"

"Let's run there."

"You're serious?"

"Why not?"

"Are you sure you're up for the run?"

"Are you?" I countered.

"What about Charlie? He's going to wonder how we got there."

"Well…" I thought for a moment. "He knows you're a werewolf. If he asks, we'll tell him I rode you there." I tried not to laugh, but failed.

From the other room I heard Emmett crack a chuckle.

"Very funny," Jake said.

Emmett was suddenly standing beside me. "I thought so," he said still chuckling. "You must have gotten your sense of humor from me. That was a nice one, Ness."

"Thanks."

"You two better get going before your parents hear about your plan," he said. "Don't worry, I'll cover for you."

"Thanks, Emmett," I said.

"No problem, kid. Now, get out of here."

"You ready, Jake?"

"Yeah, let's get going."

We both stood up and started towards the front door.

"Thanks again, Emmett!" I called back over my shoulder.

"Where are they going?" I heard Rose ask him.

"Just hunting, nothing special," he answered, not missing a beat.

"Okay. So what-"

Then she broke off because we were already at the end of the drive, so I couldn't hear her anymore.

"On your mark," Jake said.

"Get set," I added.

"Go!" We both shouted in synchronization.

Just then he leaped into the air and phased.

"Cheater!" I shouted to him.

I heard him make a sound that sounded like laughter as his paws hit the ground and he began to run.

A few hours later we were in Forks. Our race had fizzled out about half way there because we would rather run together, so we just called it a tie.

We went to visit Charlie, then Billy. Charlie had suggested coming with us when we told him that we were going to Billy's. When we went outside I could tell he was about to ask where the car was, but I guess he decided he didn't really want to know. He was still big on knowing as little as possible, so we rode there in the cruiser. Jake was in the back. I could barely keep from laughing. I think I recalled Mom telling me a story similar to this with Dad in the back seat.

We had hung around Billy's for a few hours just catching up. We were now saying our goodbyes. We weren't going home yet, but we figured we would say them now.

When Charlie opened the door for us his curiosity got the best of him.

"How are you two getting home?" he asked.

I didn't know how to answer him. I looked up at Jake hoping that he had a good answer, but he was looking down at me hoping that I had an answer.

Luckily, we were both saved by Billy.

"The same way they got here."

I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, and looked up at Billy smiling. He was grinning back at me.

Charlie stood there for a moment; he looked like he was having an internal debate. Then he opened his mouth and asked, "And how exactly did you two get here? I really want to know. This, knowing as little as possible gets annoying sometimes."

"You really want to know?" I asked.

He nodded.

I looked up at Jake. He shrugged and nodded, and I figured why not? It didn't really give much away.

"We ran here," I answered.

"You ran here?" He raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

"Yup. We ran here." Jake confirmed.

He nodded slowly, thinking this over.

I was a little worried by what he would say or ask next. We all waited for a response.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Well, dogs are known for being able to run long distances. And for you running here," he pointed at me, "I don't want to know."

All three of us were smiling at him.

I reached up to pat Jake on the arm. "That they are," I said grinning.

"Well, you two should get going." Billy said.

"Sure, sure."

We started towards the beach then; waving and shouting goodbyes over our shoulders.