I woke up to the sound of distant ringing. I slowly opened my eyes, it was still dark, or so I thought. Turns out I was just buried under Jacob's blanket. I didn't understand why he needed a blanket. He was hot enough as is. I felt Jacob's leg rub against me as he shifted under the sheets.
"Hello?" His voice was groggy and coarse. It sounded like he just woke up. "Oh hey Charlie." He said. "Uh huh. Well thanks for… Really? The library huh? Ok I'll go check it out. Thanks again Charlie." Jacob said. I heard a click, then Jacob rip the covers off of me. I squinted trying to block out the new source of light. "Come on Sarah we're going to the library." Jacob said.
I was sitting in the passenger seat of his rabbit. It was cloudy outside, and the cool wind felt good as it blew through my fur. Jacob rolled down the window for me before we left. Every chance he could take his eyes off the road he would glance over at me and smile. I could see it out of the corner of my eye.
"Ok Sarah we're gonna head into town now so you have to duck down now." Jacob said. I turned around and looked at him. My ears drooped down. I didn't want to duck down. But I suppose it was for the best. It probably would have looked odd if Jacob drove in town with a fox sticking its head out the window. So I did exactly what I was told. I sat down in his passenger seat.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to get lower than that." Jacob said. I rolled my eyes and got on the floor. "Sorry." He said. It was a genuine apology. I simply nodded letting him know it was alright.
Jacob parked his car along the side of the library. His stop was a little abrupt. I lost my balance and hit my head against his glove compartment. "Sorry." He blushed. Even under that russet skin I could still see the blood rush to his cheeks. I wanted to give him a lick but I couldn't go up to give him one. I batted my paw against the seat.
"What?" he asked. I lowered my head. "What's wrong Sarah?" He asked leaning in. He was close but not enough for me to reach without being seen. I lowered myself all the way down to the ground. He leaned in resting his arm against the seat, to keep him from falling. I quickly lifted my head, and licked his cheek enthusiastically.
"Ah! Sarah stop!" He said while laughing. He lifted himself up and sat straight up in his seat. Jacob looked around while he wiped my slobber off his cheek. He reached into the back seat of his car. He pulled out an old black back pack. Jacob unzipped the bag and started to take a few books, a couple of crumpled pieces of paper, some pens, and an old empty wrapper out. He turned the back pack upside down, and shook it. A few candy wrappers and some dirt came out.
"Sorry I'm not the cleanest person." Jacob said. He opened the back pack in front of me. I tilted my head at him. I was not going to get in that thing. "Come on Sarah get in." I sneezed and shook my head. "Come on. It's the only way I can get you into the library." Jacob explained. I sighed to myself. Reluctantly I jumped into his back pack. It smelt like sweat, stale food and Jacob. I tried concentrating on Jacob's scent rather than everything else. "Ok Sarah. Whatever happens. Don't move. Don't make a sound. If someone catches you with me. They'll take you away from me, and no one's going to do that to me, not even you. Promise me this, Sarah." His voice was rough but there was kindness behind it. I nodded making this promise to him.
I curled myself into a ball in his back pack; I tried my best to remain still and quiet. I felt myself being lifted and flung around. I was resting against something hard. I felt myself swaying back and forth, as Jacob walked.
"Jacob!" I heard a voice outside call.
"Bella." Jacob's voice sounded nervous and rushed. All of a sudden I was being crushed in between Jacob and something less hard. It felt like a brick wall. I bite my tongue trying to hold in my scream. The crushing stopped and I heard Jacob mutter "sorry" The top of the back pack was pressed closed. A set of arms pinned it down.
"Sorry? Sorry for what?" Bella asked. "Oh nothing. I didn't recognize you for a second. I was just apologizing." He explained. "You know you don't have to." She replied. "Yeah just a force of habit I guess." He said. "Geez you smell like a fox." She said. "Yeah, I just got back from hunting. I caught one. Guess its scent is still on me." He said. "Hmm Edward refuses to hunt foxes. You should have called me. We could have gone hunting together." Bella said. "Sorry." He said,
"So what are you doing here?" She asked. "Oh I'm just helping Seth with his research project. He's sick and he wanted me to find out a few things." He said.
"Oh what's the project about?" Geez was a she an inquiring little thing. I thought.
"Foxes." Jacob replied.
"Foxes? Not wolves?" Bella asked.
"Yeah he said that everyone in his class was researching wolves so he decided to research foxes instead." Jacob replied. "Well why don't I help you. You we're never any good at book work by yourself." Bella said. "Nah Bella it's ok. I can handle it on my own." He said. "Please?" She begged. "It's been awhile since we've hung out." Jacob was silent for awhile. "Sure why not?"
Great now I'm stuck in this stupid back pack till he can get away from her. I thought.
"Jacob what are we doing in the basement?" Bella asked. "I just wanted to check something out." He replied. The bag flung to the side, and I was gently set on the ground. I heard footsteps walking away from me. Another set was walking towards me. Someone stepped on my tail. I held in another painful scream.
"Why are you looking through the news print?" Bella asked. "My dad said there was a story about thirty years ago, about foxes. He thinks it could help Seth." He explained to her. "A story on foxes huh?" Bella's voice sounded like she was intrigued. There was some flipping through some pages then silence.
"Oh my god." Bella said.
There were quick footsteps to the other side of the room, the sound of a book being turned over, and an odd buzzing sound. "I'm sorry Bella but I have to go." Jacob said running over to me. He grabbed the back pack and flung it over his back. I crashed into his back. Still I held in my scream.
I was being swayed back and forth inside his back pack. I could tell Jacob was running. I heard his car door open. He set me down, and started the car. He drove off. "Stay in the bag Sarah. Bella's a vampire. So she's fast and will try to get in the car. I've got to get back to La Push before she reaches us.
I could hear the car's engine being pushed to its limits. It roared loudly, nearly scared me half to death. But I kept quiet. I didn't want to break my promise to him. After awhile the engine became quieter. There was a tugged at the top of the back pack. I smelt fresh air. I waited for Jacob to say something.
"It's ok. Sarah. We're back in La push." Jacob's words were soothing to me.
I stuck my head out of the back pack. I looked up at my mate. He was concentrating on the road, but he smiled. He could tell I was looking up at him. He reached over and gently stroked the fur on my head. When he stopped I tilted me head at him.
"Oh right. This is what I found." He said pulling out a folded up piece of paper from his back pocket. He unfolded it with one hand and showed it to me. My eyes went wide when I saw it. I wanted to scream. I hid myself in the back pack. I'd rather smell the sweat then look at it.
"I know." Jacob said.
