Chapter 7 - Eyes Wide Open

"No...Absolutely not! Are you out of whatever is left of your mind Jacob Black!"

Alexandria stood in the Black residence staring at Jake like he was losing it. Jake half smiled, "Think about it Lexi. There's no better way to get Paul to get his head out of his ass and get Alyssa to realize she likes me as much as I like her." Alex sat down at the kitchen table as she put her head in her hands, "I think you've really lost it Jake. There is no way I could begin to pretend I have feelings for you if Paul already knows I like him. Not to mention I'm not trying to ruin my friendship with Alyssa."

Jake sat at the kitchen table next to Alex as he took her hand, and she noticed how hot the touch of his skin was. She took his hand in both of hers, "What the hell kind of effect does the drinking water have on you full blooded Quileute boys?" Jake chuckled as he squeezed her hand gently, "Maybe you're right...It's a stupid idea. I'm gonna sock Seth for even suggesting it." Alex frowned, "Why is Seth so gung-ho for me and Paul to get together...I don't get it. It's like you said yourself. How many times can you tell someone you like them before you get it through your thick skull that they can't stand you?"

Jake frowned with Alex, "Paul does like you...But for the life of me I don't know why he's being such an ass. What did he say to you the other day?" Alex couldn't stop the tears, before she knew it she had told Jake everything, Jake and Alex had been best friends since her mother and her had moved back to La Push when she was 7. They never had a sexual attraction to each other, to Jake, Alex was one of the guys, she would play football with them and rough house like the rest of them, they were considerably gentler with her, but they still took all the punishment dished out between them. But yet she was beautiful.

Jake watched as the tears cascaded down her tan cheeks, and it broke his heart. He wanted to put his fist through Paul's skull. Jake stood up and pulled Alex up and into his arms as he let her cry on his shoulder. He wrapped her securely in his arms, "Maybe were just destined to be in love with people who don't love us back Lex."

Two day later, it was Friday night and time for the bonfire. Alexandria looked at herself in the mirror, her black cargo capris, a white form fitting t-shirt with black sleeves and left her hair down. She put on white ankle socks and black sneakers. As she saw Jake pull up, she grabbed her black pull over hoodie and ran out the door and jumped in the front seat of his rabbit. Kim and Jared bombing her with hugs from the back seat. Alex laughed at them.

Jared wrapped his arms around Kim, "So are you guys going with the plan or no?" Alex and Jake both said no at the same time. Alex turned around, "I'm not going to trick someone into thinking anything. I'm not trying to hurt Alyssa and if Paul does or doesn't like me who cares. Eventually he'll know he's missing something or in this case someone great. It's his own stupid fault." Kim nodded, "I agree. If Paul wants to be a jerk about it all then it's his own fault. I know he's stubborn and he's got a short temper. But I never thought in a million years he'd be such a jerk."

Once they got to the bonfire, Alyssa was sitting in front of the fire with Collin, Brady, Seth and Leah. Sam and Emily were off to the side dancing to the music that was coming through the small radio sitting in the sand. Leah was looking sour, Alex knew it was because of Sam and Emily's displays of affection in front of everyone. Leah had been dating Sam for the longest time and as soon as he met her cousin Emily, he only had eyes for her. Leah was still hurting from it, not that anyone could blame her. Leah usually did her best with ignoring them. Only every once in a while did it really get to her.

Alexandria's eyes landed on Embry and Paul throwing the football back and forth and Alex felt a twinge of pain in her heart. She looked down at the sand and Jake noticed she'd stopped walking, his warm hand on the middle of her back as he steered her towards the bonfire, "It'll be ok Lex." His voice was low enough to only where she heard him. She smiled softly as she tapped her hand gently on his chest, "Thanks." Alex join everyone by the bonfire as Jake walked off towards Paul and Embry.

Paul went to catch the football when Jake's hand shot out and snatched it out of mid-air. Paul scowled, "What's your problem Black?" Jake turned and looked at Paul as he threw the football down and pushed Paul with one hand, "You are Paul. You're my problem." Paul's scowl deepened, "What the hell is your issue man?" Jake growled, "You're got a fuckin imprint would thinks the world shines out of your ass and you're treating her like shit when my fuckin imprint acts as though I've got the plague. I heard what you said to Lexi. Telling her she's not worth it? Are you out of your fuckin mind Paul? Are you blind or stupid? Can you not see she's in love with you?"

Paul shoved Jake back, "It's none of your fuckin business...You let me worry about my own imprint and keep your mind on your own." Jake growled deeper, "That's just it Paul you're not doing shit! You're breaking your imprint. Do you know how hard it is to watch my best friend cry because you are treating her like shit? You act as if you don't have a fuckin clue...Except you do because you know when she's crying, you know how hurt she's been by the words you said. And yet here you stand throwing that stupid football around when you should be over there begging her to forgive you for being so stupid."

Paul growled, "Look just cause your imprint doesn't want to have anything to do with you doesn't give you the right to tell me what to do with mine." Jake scoffed, "Seth was right. Me and Lexi should just be together and let you and Alyssa deal with the consequences."

That struck a nerve.

Paul spun around seethingly pissed off, "WHAT!" Jake shook his head, "You're going to keep fuckin this off and you're going to lose her...to me. And if I get her I'm not going to give her back to you Paul. You lose. I win." Jake turned as he walked back to the bonfire.

Jake stood next to Alexandria's sitting form, she looked up and could've sworn she saw something in his eyes she'd never seen before.

Pain.

Alex stood up as she watched his fist clench and unclench by his sides. She reached out and grabbed his forearm. Her soft hand slid down his forearm to his wrist and then finally to his hand, when he unclenched his hand his fingers gently wrapped around her hand as he squeezed her hand softly. He looked back at Paul and Alex's eyes followed and noticed Paul's pissed off form was making his way over to them. Alex's eyes widened in shock as Jake turned back to face her and within a matter of seconds Jake jerked her against his body and his lips crashed against hers.

Everyone sitting around the bonfire's eyes widened in amazement at the site before them. Including Alyssa.