It had been days, Jackie wasn't sure how many. They seemed to have started to melt into each other. Leah… wow it was nice to have her back, Jackie had always assumed that Leah couldn't see her but deep down it still hurt that she didn't fight. Well she was here now so that was what was important. She just wanted him here, her? Them?
Agh. Jackie sighed and just looked down at her book. The letters swirled in front of her eyes and made her head hurt. She squeezed her eyes shut and closed the book. It had been getting worse with the passing of the days. She missed reading. She hadn't been able to after a few days of sleeplessness. Leah has spent most of her time with Jackie and when she was busy her brother tended to drop by. They talk a lot but Jackie had been talking less and less. She just couldn't find the energy.
Paul wasn't back. Seth said that he would be but Jackie couldn't be sure. She still couldn't comprehend the whole imprint thing and with every passing day her ability to comprehend seemed to lessen. Sam and Jared had both been away from their imprints but the bond didn't seem to affect the imprints as much. Seth's theory was that it was affecting Jackie either because the bond was under stress or maybe because it was a very strong bond. It didn't feel strong… nothing felt strong anymore. Just weak. Her body, her mind, her will, her everything seemed to be weakening.
She appreciated Leah and Seth. They had been so kind, they had even managed to keep the bullies at bay, but sometimes she needed space. She had been sneaking off at school more often, sitting in die lab. It was quite and the wolves seemed to respect her alone time. Leah even helped her to the lab this morning. It wasn't that she couldn't do it herself; it was just a lot of work carrying her books and all that. Her mind always drifted to Paul. She didn't mind it as much, she had always thought of him, always thought of his eyes, but now things were different.
The imprint took away her little make believe world, made things far too real. It wasn't just a little fantasy about the hot as hell bully. It was thinking about a forced soul mate that she could feel, tugging at a string connected to her heart. It was painful at times, less at others, but always present. It was the worst at night. It was cold, like an icy hand gripping at her heart, squeezing.
The string was pulled extremely tight at this time, and it was scorching hot. She simply sighed and rested her head on her arms, staring blankly at Maggie, the science class bunny, running on a wheel in her cage.
"I always wanted to set her free, you know? Poor little thing stuck in that cage. Mike and them are trying to talk Mr Redbuck into dissecting her. Would be so sad." She says in a soft voice not turning her head away from the squeaking wheel with a big ass rabbit on it. The packs thoughts weren't exaggerated, she was sick. Even without seeing her face he knew. Her normally tan skin seemed paler and she seemed to have lost a bit of weight. Her shoulders weren't at their normal stubborn but cute height, they hung. And even though she was sitting she seemed to be out of breath just uttering the sentences.
He stared the back of her head, willing her to turn but too stubborn to ask her to. His chest burned but he didn't dare approach her. It was like the chains connecting them was pulling at his chest but he stood still. "It's just a rabbit." He said. She shrugged "Cute one though."
"You look like shit." he says trying to keep his voice steady. "You smell like shit." He smiled faintly. "No showers out in the wild." "No sleep back here." She says and then yawns as if on cue. He didn't really know what to say. She then turned to look at him and he was shocked. He had missed her so much and she was still stunning but she was tired. Her blue eyes had very dark circles under them. Her cheeks had lost their normal cheerful blush. She was deathly pale. Her head was still resting on her arms, and it looked almost as if she was too weak to hold her head up. The pack was right; him running was a bad idea.
"I'm so sorry…" he said, guilt evident in his voice. "Don't, please don't start with a guilt ridden thing, I don't want it." That hurt… she didn't want it, she wanted nothing to do with him probably. Pain overtook him then but he quickly covered it with anger. His face hardened and his body went ridged. He couldn't take the rejection. He set his jaw in a tight line and spun towards the door. He grabbed the doorknob and yanked it open.
"No!" her weak breathy scream instantly stopped his actions. Anchored his feet to the ground. A chair cluttered to the floor and he spun just in time to see her as her legs gave out from under her and she fell to the ground her outstretched hand still clutching at his shirt. He quickly grabbed her around her waist and pulled her up and hugged her to his chest. Tears streamed down her face and her blue eyes looked huge. "Please… I can't just…" she shook her head as if to clear it, "don't leave." She says with tears streaming down her pleading face and her body slumping against his.
He held her with his one arm and whipped the tears off her face with his thumb. She closed her eyes and pressed her face into his palm. She hummed lowly and then her body went slack. "What the…" He had to catch her quickly. He picked her up bridal style and held her close to him. "Seth" he said half freaking out. He knew the young wolf was close by. He appeared in the doorway within seconds. He took one look at the passed out girl in his arms and sighed. "I was wondering when that would happen." He reached out of swiped a strand of hair, that had fallen into her face, behind her ear. A growl unconsciously came from Paul's chest. Seth didn't react at all. "She has been exhausted, hadn't been able to sleep at all since you left. I didn't want her to come to school but… she's stubborn." A faint smile playing at his lips. He looked up at Paul then.
"Why don't I take you two home."
This was amazing. He had been in bed with a lot of girls but never had he just… slept with them. He wasn't proud of his past but yes, he usually just had sex and then they were on their way. There were a few clingy ones sure, girls like Jessica and Lauren that wanted more and never got the message but he knew how to handle them. This was different, it was new. He savoured the moment. He loved the feeling of her head resting on his chest, her hot breath in his neck, her hair tickling him. But most of all he absolutely loved her sent that filled his nose and head. He loved being this close to her, being close enough to smell her. He so wished her sent would rub off on his bed. Agh. No! This imprint would not make him weak. But it was nice, having her beg for him, miss him, he absolutely loved that!
She slept peacefully mostly. She sighed peacefully a few times or cuddled in closer to his chest. As it started to get dark he reached over and covered them both with his blankets. "Paul…" she sighs. Shock quickly followed by joy swept over him then and he fell asleep with a huge smile on his face.
