A/N Here goes another chapter. Enjoy hopefully. Oh and should I put imprinting in this story. I don't know yet whether or not I want to do that but if you guys want me to just comment for it. :)
My morning routine passed without much thought and I was soon walking the halls...avoiding Jacob. I turned the last corner on the way to homeroom and my eyes caught three teenage boys, one of which I was meant to be evading. The three were whispering hurriedly to each other and hadn't noticed my presence. I moved faster hoping to make it by without gaining their attention. Still Jacob's head snapped up as if he could hear my rapidly beating heart and his eyes immediately found mine.
I froze. It was different when I didn't have to see him, when his resplendent brown orbs were just my mental conception. His physical being, standing here, not breaking contact, stifled me and I was at a loss. I felt the eyes of Quil and Embry on me as well but I never looked away from Jacob thus commencing the breaking of my heart. I wanted to turn away, I did, yet I also wanted to run to him and squeeze him tight. Tell him I forgive him and we could try again. I was caught in the middle of the two.
He looked away first and I wasn't sure if I was happy or sad about that. I took a step continuing the few feet left to my classroom when I was cut off. Quil and Embry stood blocking my path and I stepped away from them narrowing my eyes in suspicion. I glanced back to the spot they were last standing only to find Jacob had vanished.
My eyes traveled back to the two boys in front of me who were both sporting goofy grins and expectant eyes. "What?" I asked confused. "Hi," was Quil's reply. "What's up?" came Embry's. "What do you want?" I questioned. I didn't know if Jake had told them and if he had…would they still decide to be friends with me? "We just wanted to talk to our best friend." Embry answered simply. I sighed heavily both in relief and annoyance, "Guys. I don't have time to play games with you and honestly I'm not particularly in the mood either." Their faces dropped with my words and concerned expressions enveloped their features. "We heard…" Quil started, "About what happened with Jake." "Okay?" "You know...Jake's stupid-" was Embry's response. "Yeah, I found that out awhile ago." I confirmed. "But you still let him tell you all of that crap yesterday," Embry voiced exasperated.
"He chose to say it. I can't control the words that come out of his mouth, no matter how idiotic they are." I explained rolling my eyes. "You're right, but you didn't have to believe it!" Embry said throwing his hands up in the air. "Oh I didn't believe him for one second. That has nothing to do with the fact that he was being a total jackass!" I responded, my volume increasing marginally. Quil raised his hands in surrender, always the peacemaker, and spoke, "So you two aren't speaking because…" "Jacob hurt me Quil. He hurt me. He used my weaknesses against me to make sure I would never speak to him again. I don't know why and honestly at this point I could care less. He was my friend. I liked him. He said he liked me and in a span of a day he claims his feelings just disappeared. I tried to ask a reason. I wanted to know the reason but he didn't tell me. He didn't offer me anything. He lied to my face and I can't forgive that now. If he wants to come and tell me the truth, I'll forgive him without hesitation. If he wants to offer some explanation why he acted the way he did, I'll crawl right back into his arms. Until then, tell him to stay away from me. I don't want to see him, I can't. I just can't."
The words scrambled out of my mouth quickly and I was breathing heavily by the end of it. Quil and Embry exchanged looks before peering back at me. "We just want you and Jake together again. He's not doing so good without you. Maybe if-" "Listen I love you two. You guys are like brothers to me. And...I love Jake too, despite my better judgement. I understand that you're just trying to help but I really don't want to hear it unless it comes from his mouth. So, " I slipped past them rushing to my room, "I'll see you guys later." With a slight wave of my hand, I crossed the threshold to my classroom and sat down in an empty seat. Upon sitting, I crossed my arms leaning them on the table and placed my head facedown on top of them shutting my eyes.
I could hear the scuffle of feet coming in through the classroom door. I felt a slight breeze emanating from the front of the classroom indicating the fan the teacher insisted was necessary because it was always 'so damn hot.' Chair legs to the right of me scraped against the floor and I didn't need to look up to know who it was. I smelled Jake as soon as he stepped foot in the room. His scent engulfed me and I struggled so as not to appear affected. I kept my head firmly down enclosed in my arms refusing to look up. Jacob had other plans. "Crystal," he whispered close to my ear. A shiver shot through my body at his hot breath tickling my skin.
I still didn't lift my head and he tried again. "C'mon Cris, I just wanna talk," he said. I snapped my head up at this causing his head to jump back. "You wanna talk? Really? It seemed like you did all the talking you wanted to do yesterday," I spat at him. "That's actually what I wanted to talk about," he shared scratching the back of his neck nervously. I sat patiently waiting for him to speak. He cleared his throat, "Okay. Yesterday I meant everything I said." he started. My heart broke again at those words and I turned away as my eyes began to water. "Good to know Jake," I croaked, "I just needed to be reassured that you didn't like me. Thanks." I turned to face him again, my vision blurring from the tears welling in my eyes. I looked into those beautiful brown eyes of his and I could see the regret, the guilt.
"Cris, I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry, but maybe we can just be-" he began rambling. "Be friends?" I asked. He nodded his head. "You want to be friends after rejecting me, after standing me up for a date that you can't even give me an explanation for. I knew you were an idiot...but not this big of an idiot." I stated bluntly. I stood up making my way to another seat. He pulled me back by my hand. I felt the warmth and comfort his hand provided me with and found myself staring down at our entwined hands. He rubbed circles on the back of my hand bringing me closer whispering softly, "Please Crystal please." It took everything in me to snatch my hand away. "Stop it Jake. Just stop it. You say you don't like me and then you do things like this that just make me...I don't understand what it is you want Jake but I can't be friends with you." I tried to walk away again but he pulled me back.
"Why? Just tell me why." he begged holding both of my hands now, "Why you can't forgive me?" "Because you're breaking my heart Jake," I told him. His eyes widened. "If I stay friends with you, you'll just break it more than it already is and honestly," I let out a dry chuckle, "I don't think I'll be able to take that." I gently removed my hands from his looking one more time at his incredulous expression before heading to the back of the room and taking a seat. Hidden from the staring eyes, buried in my arms once again, I let the tears fall from my eyes.
