Pushing my books away, I'd finished my homework later this evening in time for my sister to come through the door, suitcase in hand.
"How are you?" she asked, locking the door.
"Bored."
"Make any friends while I was gone?"
"No."
"Did you try?"
"Hell no." What was this, twenty questions?
"Watch your mouth." I rolled my eyes.
"What is your problem?" Ella snapped. Jake wasn't the only one fed up with my attitude apparently.
"This state. That school. That boy."
"What boy?" Ella asked, going from agitated to interested in 0.2 seconds flat.
"Never mind."
I admit it. Jake had constantly been running through my mind since the day we met. I wanted him, and had it been under different circumstances, I'd have expressed this. But they weren't, so I didn't. To make matters worse, I was sick. I was sure it was nothing. Just short little flashes of heat that left a sick to my stomach feeling once they passed. They seemed to increase every time that sweet scent passed my nose.
"I'm gonna take a walk," I muttered.
"You gon' tell me 'bout dat boy, Rosalind," Ella called as I walked out the door. I flinched. I hated being called Rosalind.
"Fine, Eleanore," I called back before closing the door.
I trudge through the woods in the fading light of the sun's last rays, hoping the fresh air would clear my head but to no avail. I froze mid-step, not in fear but in shock.
"Hello," chimed the melodic voice of the beautiful boy from the mall.
"Hi," I said dazedly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. The sweet scent hit my senses but stronger more painful, and unlike all the other times it didn't go away after a few seconds.
"I been watchin' you Rosalind, my little southern voodoo charm," he said, taking a few steps towards me. I didn't back away, my curiosity keeping me rooted to the spot.
"Whadda you mean?" I asked, my forehead wrinkling in frustration, switching from foot to foot.
"You, mutter… in your sleep. Did you know that? I been in your room watchin' you. So who's this Jacob person? I must admit I'm a little jealous."
"You- You're crazy! Get away from me," I turned to walk away from him.
"Don't go my little southern belle," he said in a low voice, "My, my you're beautiful. Anyone ever tell you that you slightly favor your great-great-great-great grandmother Marie Laveau?" I flinched from his icy touch when his fingers grazed my skin.
"Don't touch me," I said putting a hand over the spot he touched. I was burning, figuratively and literally.
"Come now, Rosalind." He started towards me and I walked away. He grabbed my arm and in turn I grabbed his cold, marble wrist. He let go, looking surprised. I slammed him into a tree. He peeled himself from the dent in the tree's trunk. Now, I was scared.
"What are you?" I half whispered. He didn't get the chance to answer. A large russet wolf emerged from the shadows, growling and looking ready to pounce. The boy chuckled, pecked me on the cheek, and ran away with inhuman speed and agility, the wolf chasing after him. Absent mindedly, I wiped the place the boy kissed me. I ran back home, looking like I'd seen a ghost.
"Rose, what's wrong?" Ella asked, looking worried when I walked into the living room where she'd been talking to a man in a wheelchair.
"I saw a wolf…. Are you Jacob's dad?" I asked. He smiled at me as if I were an old friend.
"Billy Black," he said outstretching his beg hand for me to shake.
"He looks like you," I said shaking his hand. Jacob came through the door a moment later, and Ella had us run off to my room.
"You look awful," I said bluntly, taking in his appearance. He looked like he'd flung his clothes on in a hurry, not really caring what he looked like.
"We match then," he said rolling his eyes. Whoa. What happened to the persistent Jacob Black who, days ago, wanted to find out what was underneath my cold exterior? I crossed my arms and glared at him.
"So this is your room?" he said looking around. His eyes landed on some pictures on my nightstand. One of me and five other girls, posing and smiling at the camera and another of me and a boy, our arms wrapped around each other, me smiling at the camera and the boy kissing my cheek.
"Who's this?" he said, picking up the picture.
"That's my ex-boyfriend and former fiancé Sean. We didn't want that whole long distance relationship thing, so we broke up shortly before the move," I explained.
"He's not that good looking," Jake said. Jealous much?
"Neither am I, yet you liked me before."
"You're beautiful," he said in a low voice leaning in close and managing to take my breath away.
"Since you haven't tried to ask me out yet, I'm assuming my attitude finally got to you?" I asked once I found my voice, trying to keep myself from pouncing on him.
"I never break a promise, no asking you out, and who said I like you?"
"When you don't like someone, you don't ask them out or call them beautiful… At least I don't anyway."
"True, so let's say, hypothetically speaking, that you like me."
"Then I'd ask you out."
"What is it you'd like about me?"
"Why do you-"
"Just answer the question." I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed.
"I don't know… You."
"What?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Just you in general."
"That's hardly a straight forward answer."
"Yeah, and?" What did he want from me?
"I hardly think that's fair. Do you think you could clarify a little bit?"
"How is it not fair?"
"Every time you ask me a question, I give you an actual answer."
"I answer you, don't I?"
"Fine. Then answer me this. Why are you so stubborn?" He asked, studying me. I meditated on the question a bit.
"I like to argue," I said, shrugging. It's true. It's my favorite pastime. I've never backed down from a fight and I've always made sure I could back up what I say. He looked at me funny. Oddly enough, I found it cute. Instantly, my mind flashed back to what that strange boy said. About me muttering Jacob's name in my sleep. A deep pressure built in my stomach and pushed up against my chest. I recognized the feeling all too well having felt it several times before. Anger.
"Okay. Why do you always have such a bad attitude?" Jacob asked, trying to chisel away my protective shell. I thought some more.
"I guess because… I want to have one. I've never been angrier in my life. I don't know what else to do… or what else to be… or anything."
"Be you."
"I don't fit n Washington. I was born and bred in and for New Orleans," I confessed.
"So let me help you fit in, but you have to trust me," he said. I hesitated.
"What have you got to lose?" he urged.
"Nothing… anymore."