Chapter 7 Nowhere Else

The new couple decided to take a stroll through the woods and talk. They had to start figuring out what this was between them. Although they kept the fear to themselves, neither could help but worry that with the invading vampire army on the way, time might be more precious than anyone wanted to acknowledge. As they walked on, hand-in-hand, they were both very quiet. Neither knowing how to start whatever it was they were suppose to be talking about. Finally, Drea chuckled and Jake stopped and turned to her.

"What's so funny?"

"This," she responded with a wave of her hand between them. "We are virtually strangers. I know your name, you know mine. I know you are a wolf and you know I am a witch. This is literally all we know about each other."

"Not true," Jacob began to argue, "I know that you study anthropology." He grinned at her as if that made any difference. She couldn't help but return his innocent smile. How could she love him so much, so quickly?

"That is true. You do know that, but I don't even know what you do. What do you do, Jay?"

He shrugged his shoulders and kept his gaze firmly on his nervous, shuffling feet.

"What? What is it?"

"I'm afraid you'll be upset when I tell you."

"Don't be silly. What? Are you a criminal? I don't think so, just tell me."

He mumbled something too low for her to hear.

"And for those of us without super-hearing?" she asked.

"I'm in school," he answered, this time speaking barely loud enough for her to hear.

"So? I'm in school too. What's the big deal?"

"I'm in high school."

"Oh," she responded, understanding why he was hesitant. A moment later, the implication finally hit her. "Wait! How old are you?"

"God! What is it you Swan women and age?" he asked, exasperated.

"Good goddess! Don't tell me you're even younger than Bella! I thought eighteen would be bad enough. Jeez, Jay, how old are you?" Drea asked.

"Sixteen," he answered sheepishly.

She threw her hands up in the air and began to pace. "Well, it's official. I'm going to jail. Uncle Charlie is going to arrest me."

Jacob grabbed Drea's shoulders and pulled her to him, leaning down to look her in the eye. "Would you please relax. How old did you think I was?"

"I don't know, twenty-two or twenty-three."

"So, how old do you think most people will think I am?"

"Twenty-two or twenty-three, but...Uncle Charlie knows, doesn't he?"

"We'll just have to explain it to him. How old are you anyway?"

"Wow! Manners much?" She let out a tiny nervous laugh at the embarrassed expression on his face. "Just kidding, Jaybird. I just don't want to tell you now because you'll be disgusted...I'm practically an old maid compared to you!"

"Would you relax? I'm imprinted, baby. Not. Going. Anywhere. Ever. Okay?" He punctuated each word of his promise with a gentle squeeze to her shoulders.

"Okay," she hedged. Now, she was the one gazing at the tops of her shoes.

"Come on, Drea...just tell me," Jacob begged, rubbing his hands up and down her arms, hoping to help her relax.

"Fine! I'm twenty-six," she answered, tensing up for his response.

"Ten years. Is that it? See? Nothing. Now relax for five minutes, okay?"

"You really don't care?"

"Of course not. Do you mind that I'm younger?"

"No, other than the legality of the thing," she replied with certainty. "Nothing could change how I feel about you. I know that. Even if you were a criminal." She gave him the silly grin he was beginning to love more than breathing.

"Can I ask you for a favor?"

"Anything, mo grian. I am yours," she responded without hesitation or thought.

"Ma, what?" he asked, confused.

"Heh, sorry. Uh, mo grian—it's Irish," she explained bashfully, "It means my sun. It just sort of popped in my head when you first touched me. You're so warm and so handsome. When I look at you, it seems like the sun is shining out from under your skin."

"Wow. That's pretty cool," he said, a little embarrassed by her beautiful compliment.

"I'm glad you approve," she quipped, flashing him his favorite little grin. "Now, what favor?"

"Oh! Uh, well, I-I just wanted to hold you for a few minutes. I know we barely know each other and we need to talk and all, but we have time for that. Right now, I just really want to touch you, to hold you." More than that, he ached to hold her, but he didn't want to come across sounding like a stupid kid or something so he just shut-up, thinking less was more. The truth was, he was young and inexperienced and he knew it, but he couldn't care less. As long as Drea didn't reject him, nothing else in the world mattered.

"How could I ever refuse you, my sweet Jaybird?"

He laughed softly and wrapped his long warm arms around her, tucking her under his chin. "You're starting to make me feel bad with all the sweet nicknames. I'll be up all night trying to think of ones for you. Besides, if you ever actually see me shift, I doubt I'll make you think of a bird ever again."

"Heh, I guess I wasn't thinking of that. Oh well, even as a giant wolf, I bet you'd still be my sweet Jaybird. As far as I go, you can call me whatever you like, as long as you call me," she told him with a smirk.

"Wow, I may be sixteen, but even I know that's a cheesy old line," he responded, giving her his own silly grin.

"I don't care. You make me want to be cheesy and romantic. It's not me normally, it's how you make me feel," she told him, snuggling deeper into his arms. She was really happy with Jacob. Even if she didn't know all the details you're suppose to know about someone when you feel this way about them, she felt safe with him. The evil vampires were coming, but for right this moment, sitting in the woods tucked in the arms of her perfect soulmate, Drea felt warm and loved and safe. There was no where else in the world she'd rather be.