7.
The next few weeks I mostly spent with Jake. Since revealing our feelings for one another, time had seemed to slow down. We took things very slowly, not wanting to rush anything. We didn't put a label on what we were, Jake said we were just "us". The two of us still did the same things, but most of our nights were spent wrapped in each others arms and kissing softly. I hadn't told my parents yet, I wasn't sure what their reaction would be. I wanted what we had to remain easy and low key, and if my crazy family had knowledge of it, it most certainly would become the topic of conversation and gossip.
Tonight we were at home, eating pizza and watching a movie. My family was out hunting so we felt free to be ourselves.
"This movie is great, we should have seen it in the theater." Jake said laughing at the scene. I smiled and climbed into his lap. Being close to him felt like heaven. He was so warm and soft despite his hard muscles. It was hard to believe that I had never noticed before.
I burrowed my face into his neck and breathed in his scent. He always smelled like fresh rain, earth, and warm sunlight. Jacob laughed.
"Are you smelling me Nessie?" I smiled and nodded.
"You smell like home." He rested his head on mine. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the closeness. He began to stroke my hair gently and kiss my forehead. I knew now that I could spend forever this way, just him and I. It was such a simple thing, but meant so much.
I sat up and wrapped my arms around his neck. He grinned at me slyly.
"I think I have to kiss you now." He leaned forward and gave me long slow kiss. I sighed as he continued to kiss me.
"SHUT UP!" I heard a small musical voice say. I broke the kiss and spun around to see Alice standing behind us. Her mouth was wide open as she gawked at us. I jumped up and ran over to Alice.
"Oh. My. God. What is going on in here?" She asked teasingly. I grabbed her by the arm and drug her out of the living room. When we got to the kitchen, I pointed my finger at her.
"Don't tell anyone! This is not something I want everyone to know about yet! Got it?" She looked at me and grinned.
"How long has this been going on Nessie? I mean, I had no idea!" I shook my head.
"Not long at all and I'm not ready to discuss it with any one of you. Just forget what you saw for now please?" Alice pouted.
"Oh come on! You can't expect me to walk in on that and just forget it! At least tell me how long and then I'll drop it." I groaned but couldn't resist her excited little face.
"Okay Alice, it's been going on for a few weeks. Nothing serious, we're taking things really slowly. Is that good enough for now?" She jumped up and down, clapping.
"Yes yes! I can't believe this!" I gave her a stern look and she settled down. "Sorry, I'll keep my mouth shut." I raised my eyebrows at her.
"And keep my thoughts quiet when Edward's around." I held out my hand and she shook it. I turned on my heel and headed back to Jacob.
Alice walked behind me and smiled sweetly at Jake.
"Hello Jake, how are you?" He eyed her suspiciously.
"Can't complain and yourself?" He replied just as sweetly. She let out an annoyed cry.
"You two are no fun!" She said sourly as she stomped away.
Jake looked at me.
"How long until everyone finds out?" I closed my eyes.
"She promised me to keep quiet, but who knows." He chuckled. I sat down next to him and nestled in under his arm. After a few minutes of silence, Jake sat up suddenly. I watched him as he stood up in anger. His eyes were dark and excited.
"Jake what's wrong?" I asked worriedly. He walked towards the front door in a hurry.
"I have to go. Something's going on with Sam and Leah." I followed behind him. He turned to me.
"Ness I'm not sure you should come." He said flatly. I held his hand.
"I won't be in the way I promise. I just want to be with you." He gave my hand a squeeze and opened the door for me.
When we arrived at Sam's place, Leah was shouting at Sam in the font yard while Emily sat on the porch with her head in her hands. Jake jumped out of the car and ran towards them.
"Wow wow, what's going on here?" He demanded. Leah stood stone faced refusing to look away from Sam. I stayed behind Jake, trying to stay out of the way. Sam acknowledged my presence with a nod. I gave him a weak smile. Jake held his hands up.
"I asked what's going on here!" Sam glared at Leah.
"Leah's leaving the pack." We looked at Leah in shock.
"What? Why?" Jacob asked her. She shot daggers at me causing me to look away.
"I'm not going to be a part of a pack that puts blood suckers ahead of their own tribe." Jake took a step back as if he had been slapped.
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm just as devoted to the pack as any of you are!" He shouted at her. She got in front of him, furious.
"You've spent the last few years, spending all your time with them. I kept my mouth shut but that," She pointed at me in disgust. "Is not acceptable. They are our enemies, have been for hundreds of years! You're pissing on our ancestors and people by even touching her. She's a filthy disgusting hybrid, more vile than the others!" Jake growled loudly and put himself just inches away from her.
"Don't ever talk about her that way! I will tear you apart got that?" Leah snorted.
"Go ahead and try Jake, you wouldn't hurt me." Jake flexed his muscles and started to shake.
"I swear to God Leah, say one more thing about Nessie and I will kill you. You've got a problem? Let's go." Leah starred down Jake for a few moments before backing down.
"So much for loyalty." She mumbled under her breath. I took a deep breath trying to calm down. Another round of anger hit her.
"I can't believe you let those leeches into our lives Jake! They don't belong here!"
"The Cullen's were there when we needed help, they aren't the same as other vampires and you know that!" He yelled at her.
"I'm sick of you trying to be Alpha, changing everything we are as a tribe! You can't just change the treaty to make it work for you!"
"You know that we consulted with the elders," Sam said as gently as he could manage. "This was a tribal decision, and it was what had to be done." She snorted.
"If I was Alpha, I never would have allowed it. It's an insult that they fought with us. The whole time I felt sick knowing what our ancestors would have thought."
"We had no choice Leah! Without the Cullen's we never would have survived that fight! You're just pissed off that we've found someone and you're still alone!" Jake screamed at her. Sam put himself between the two of them.
"That's enough Jacob! Don't hit below the belt here." He advised. Leah pushed Sam with a great force.
"Oh shut up Sam! Quit trying to protect me, that's not your job anymore!"
"As long as you are in this tribe, it is my job Leah!" Her eyes narrowed.
"Well you sure did a good job at protecting me when you left me for my cousin." She said bitterly. Sam winced, the pain of her remark obviously hitting him hard. Emily looked up at her in agony.
"That wasn't anyone's fault Leah! We never meant to hurt you!" Leah rolled her eyes at her.
"Save it Emily! He may have imprinted on you, but you had a choice in the matter!" She looked at all of us in disgust.
"There's no loyalty here, no pride. If I'm doomed to be this way, I'm not going to spend my life in a pack that allows bloodsuckers around." She shot me a dirty look. "And I'm defiantly not going to stand aside and watch one of us date one."
"God dammit Leah!" Sam shouted. "You have a responsibility to your people! This isn't a choice, you will stay and you will put an end to all of this!"
Leah laughed bitterly.
"I don't take commands from you anymore... Alpha. I'm gone." She pushed past him and headed towards the woods. Emily stood up crying.
"Please don't do this Leah!" She cried. Sam put his hand out, blocking her from following.
"She's left us. There's no going back now." He turned away towards the house, taking Emily's shaking body into his arms. "Jake, send a message to the others. I want everyone back here at nine tonight." Jacob nodded solemnly. He was still shaking when he turned to me.
"That traitor! Who the hell does she think she is? I swear if I ever see her again..." I touched his arm softly, pulling him towards me. He starred at me, sadness in his eyes.
"I'm sorry you had to see that Ness, I shouldn't have let you come." I held his face in my hands and kissed him. He sighed into me and picked me up. After a few minutes he put me on the ground gently and held me close to him.
"Thanks, I needed that." He said quietly. I gave him a sweet smile and took his hands in mine.
"You are a good man Jacob. I know you're under a lot of pressure from Sam and everyone else. But you should be proud of yourself for doing the right thing. I just wish I wasn't such a burden on you. I know how difficult it must be under the circumstances." He lowered himself to my eye level.
"You are the most important thing in my life. More important than my family, my tribe, and my pack. You are not a burden, you are a blessing. One that I don't, nor will ever deserve. Don't ever forget that."
