Chapter Six
It was finally the weekend again! It was another beautiful day in always gloomy Forks, Washington. It was also Friday and I was lying down on a beach towel, soaking in the rays on First Beach. My friends spent all week trying to convince me to join them. After declining them time and time again, they became desperate and ended up kidnapping me. Jennifer and Aimee acted as decoys while Tyler and Derek barged into my room and practically carried me into Matt's car. Sandra gathered up things that I'd need for the beach while the other two girls explained what they were doing to Aunt Cor. My aunt had no qualms about my friends' antics. In fact, she was delighted I was going anywhere near La Push or First Beach.
I couldn't blame her. Ever since my incident with Paul, I avoided any contact with the La Push gang. I ignored Jacob's phone calls and never called him back despite my aunt's bargaining. Everything that happened last Sunday only strengthened my suspicions on the La Push guys…and Leah. And if my suspicions were true and they were werewolves, I wanted no part in it. Werewolves were what brought me here in the first place and as far as I was concerned, they were the reason that my brother disappeared.
"What do you think Jade?" I heard Jennifer ask.
"Huh?" was my immediate response.
Sandra rolled her eyes. "We were saying that we should all road trip down to California this summer! Aimee's going there for summer vacay and we should meet up with her!"
"Yeah, my uncle's beach house is big enough to house all of us," Aimee told me.
I pretended to think it over. "Yeah, that sounds fun." It did. At least if my parents didn't let me move back to the Gates, I'd have an escape plan for the summer. Now if only I could learn to avoid the La Push gang just for a few more months… Maybe they'll eventually get the hint and Jacob would stop calling or trying to come around.
"Ooh, who are they?" Sandra asked. I looked over to where she was looking at. Speak of the devils. Jacob and his friends inhabited the far left end of the beach. I wonder how long they'd been there. I hadn't noticed them there earlier. Then again, I wasn't exactly looking for them. I looked away, hoping they didn't catch me staring.
"I don't know, but I sure would love to find out," Aimee said, joining Sandra in ogling them.
"They look like a bunch of punks," Matt cried, from his place on the cooler.
"They're from the rez," Derek told him.
"They're freakin' huge!"
"And hot!" the girls giggled.
"Do they eat steroids for breakfast?" Matt asked. I remained quiet but amused at my friends' comments.
"Maybe we should come here more often," Jennifer suggested. The guys groaned.
"You think they're college guys?" Sandra asked excitedly.
"Probably. They sure as hell don't look like any of the guys at our high school." I let out a laugh. "What?"
"They're in high school," I said simply.
"How do you know?" Matt asked.
"You know them!" Aimee practically screamed. I glanced at the their direction, hoping Aimee's outburst didn't catch their attention. It didn't. They were all still busy playing catch with the football. Finally, I nodded.
"What are you doing hanging with them? They look like they're part of a gang or something."
"Someone's jealous," Jennifer teased. "You think you can introduce us?"
I laughed. "I could, but I'm not really close with them."
"Wait, are those the guys you always hang out with whenever we ask you to hang out with us?" Derek asked. I slowly nodded.
"So which one's Jacob? Isn't he the one who's interested in you?" Sandra asked.
"He is not interested in me. He was just being nice since I was the new girl in town. Plus, my aunt is close with their parents."
"Is he the one with the grey sleeveless hoodie?"
"No, that's Seth and he's only fifteen."
"What? He looks like he's twenty!"
"Is Jacob the one with the football right now?"
"That's Jared. He's taken."
"Is he the one-" Matt groaned at Sandra's constant stream of guesses.
"Alright, enough of this! Which one of you girls wants to take a dip in the water?"
"Not me!"
"Don't even think about it!"
"Why the hell would you go to the beach and not go in the water?" Matt cried.
"It's too cold!" Jennifer told him.
"Jade?" He turned to me and gave me his smile.
"No thanks," I said, shaking my head. "Come on," Matt pulled me up.
"Matt!" I pushed him away and began to take a seat again.
"Why are you wearing that sweater on the beach?"
"It's cold!" I lied.
"You'll warm up!" Matt tugged at my sweater.
"Stop it!" He reached for the zipper and began to zip it down.
"Look out!"
I saw the football spiraling in our direction and I ducked. Matt, on the other hand, was too slow and was hit square on the back of his head. He whipped his head around. I groaned and rolled my eyes Jacob was jogging towards us, the La Push gang trailing close by. Matt glared at him.
"Uh, sorry about that," he said with a smug smile. "Oh, hey Jade. Didn't see you there." He casually threw in his greeting.
"Hi," I muttered back. A part of me was happy to see Jacob which surprised me, but another part told me to distance myself.
"Are you Jacob?" Sandra cried.
Jacob nodded. "How'd you know?"
"You did that shit on purpose!" Matt cried, interrupting them.
"No, purely accidental! You mind if I get the football back?" Jacob asked.
"You want this?" Matt asked picking up the ball. He threw the football straight into the ocean. "Go get it yourself."
"I got it!" Paul cried.
"You got your football back, now leave!"
"Jade," Jacob said, ignoring Matt completely. "I heard you were leaving?" I stared at him in surprise. How did he know that? "Your aunt told me," he offered. I rolled my eyes. Of course, Aunt Corinne was always Team Jacob from the start.
"You're leaving?" Matt asked, forgetting about Jacob and the others and turning to me.
"No. Well, it was just a thought," I explained to my friends. "My parents are still considering it."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Matt took my hand into his. I saw Jacob take a step towards us and it made me pull my hand out of Matt's. A ghost of a smile appeared on Jacob's face.
"I, uh, I don't know. Like I said, my parents are still considering it."
"Matt, back off," Jennifer said, coming to my defense. "You're obviously making Jade uncomfortable and she doesn't want to talk about it, so drop it."
"Whatever," Matt muttered. He turned back to Jacob and his friends. "What are you still doing here? I said leave or do I have to make you!"
"You're an idiot," Jennifer said under her breath. A few of the guys snickered. I looked at them curiously. There was no way they could've heard what Jennifer said. Then again, if they were werewolves, they'd have super human hearing. That thought triggered a memory. On the ride back from Emily's for Jacob's birthday dinner, he mentioned having super human hearing when he heard me and Rachel talk about my ex-boyfriend.
"Jade, are you alright?" Jacob asked, walking towards me, but Matt blocked his way. I pulled Matt away.
"Matt, stop. Let's just leave."
"We were here first! If anything, they should leave!"
"Incoming!" Paul's voice shouted. This time the warning was too late. The football seemed to be heading my direction. Jacob pulled me down and I landed on top of him, his arms around my waist. The football hit the center of the grill. The coals inside spilled out, one of them landing on my sweater.
"Shit!" I cried scrambling to take my sweater off.
"Paul!" Jacob and the others bellowed.
"Sorry! Are you alright Jade?" he asked with a smirk. I glared at him as I picked up my jacket to make sure it wasn't damaged.
"You did that on purpose, you asshole," I cried. Jacob suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Where'd you get this?" he asked. His voice held a tone of anger. I looked down and realized that my arm was exposed and three long scars were clearly seen on my forearm. Jacob was rubbing his thumb over them. I shrugged him off.
"I got attacked by a dog," I told him. The others looked at one another. Paul swatted at Jacob and gave him a look.
"Come on guys, let's just go," Tyler said. Everyone started picking up their things. After gathering mine up, Matt put his arm around my shoulders and began leading me away.
"Let's just barbeque at my house," he told the others.
"Jade," Jacob called. I ignored him. I felt him grab my arm again, this time more gently.
"Hey, what's your problem?" Matt asked, pushing Jacob's hand away.
"You're really starting to make me mad," Jacob told him.
"Then do something about it," Matt challenged. He really was an idiot. Jacob towered a foot over him easily and his muscles were more prominent than Matt's.
"Jacob, calm down!" Sam called out. I looked at the other guys. Rather than looking ready for a fight, they were watching Jacob carefully. It was as if they were preparing to fight Jacob rather than Matt.
"It's fine, Matt," I finally intervened. "Just go ahead, I'll be there in a second." I waited until he was out of earshot before speaking. "What Jacob?"
"You think you can come by tomorrow? We're having a bonfire and-"
"Jake! What are you doing?" Quil cried. He moved closer to Jacob. "You need to talk to the Council first." I heard him whisper.
I felt my blood turn cold.
"What did you say?" I asked. Quil and Jacob both looked at me.
"Can you come?"
"What did you mean by Council?" I asked Quil. I looked at all the other guys who looked away, save for Sam who looked concerned and Paul who stared at me menacingly.
"I'll explain everything tomorrow. Just please come," Jacob pleaded. I deliberated his request. The word Council was just another reason that confirmed my suspicions. Brett mentioned their pack having a Council. Apparently, there were the top dogs who made decisions about their pack as a whole. They were the ones that the alpha wolf answered to.
"Jade! Hurry up!" I looked back at my friends who were waiting and watching.
"Okay fine." I said quickly. Jacob broke out into a big smile.
"Great, I'll pick you up," he said, sounding relieved.
"I can-"
"No, I'll pick you up," Jacob insisted. I rolled my eyes.
"Fine. I'll see you then."
AN: A short chapter, but I wanted to give you all something to read!
Chapter 7 Preview
"What did you think of our legends?" Billy asked me.
"Uh, it was…interesting," I replied slowly.
"Scared?" Paul asked. I gave him a good look. I was in on his game and he didn't know it. I could have some fun with this. I gave him a smile.
"No, of course not. What's there to be scared of?"
"Plenty," he said. That earned a smack on the head from his girlfriend.
"Shut up, Paul! Stop trying to scare her!" I laughed and shook my head.
"It's alright Rach. I'm not scared. Like, I said, what's there to be scared of. It's just a legend right?"
