I didn't think I could make it through to last period. Mr. Douglas had called the class to attention right after his confession. I sat in shock the whole time. I shifted my weight and crossed and uncrossed my legs just to get my mind on to something else.
A long, long time. Well time was insignificant to us, wasn't it? So what, he hadn't dated in five, ten years? That would make most sense. I didn't let myself think it had been since me. That was ridiculous. He left me. He left me because I was human. Maybe I'd scarred him, prevented him from dating anyone, anything. I relished that thought.
Once I'd gotten home, I ran, without even explaining to Cornelia.
Half an hour later, Jake found me. I pushed him again. Except this time, it was because of true anger. He hit a tree and snapped it in half. I looked at his crumpled form for a moment in worry, but then ran further.
If that didn't say "Leave me alone," I didn't know what did.
I let myself be found again around two in the morning. I was sitting in the light surf again, moping.
"You're getting all wet," Jake's voice protested feebly.
"I like sitting here," I said, staring out over the ocean to the horizon. "It makes me feel one with nature. Like I'm not some perverse being."
"I guess that makes sense," Jacob conceded as he sat down next to me.
"I'm sorry," I sighed.
"About what?"
"Throwing you in to a tree."
He exhaled a laugh. "Apologize to the tree, Bella, not me. I think it's a bit more damaged than I am. No – I know it is." I didn't quite smile, but my mouth went from a frown to a straight line.
"I know I always tell you I'm fine, and I hate when you ask," I turned to look him in the eyes. "But I don't think I am anymore. I don't know if I can handle this."
Jacob was mulling something over. His gaze was thoughtful. Finally, he decided.
"Bella, I want to show you something." He stood up and held out his hand. I took it hesitantly. "Follow me."
He shifted; the scraps of his shorts and shirt floated slowly to the ground, but he was already launching himself towards the woods, running. I followed him, thinking how much I liked that shirt. It was soft, nice to run my hands over.
My sadness faded as I realized where we were headed. The path Jacob took could only lead to once place.
When I slowed in to a walk, the trees thinned in to empty meadow. Jake stood in the middle, not caring that he was nude.
My vision cut out, a flashback seen through less acute eyes blinding me for a split second, when I suddenly saw Jake again.
"Do you remember the last time you were here, Bella?" he asked. As if on cue, another muddled flash. Besides the quality of the view, the memories were bright and day, rather than the present night.
I nodded slowly, disoriented by the memories.
"I lived here, in this meadow, for three days, Bella," he said. "I did not sleep. I did not eat."
My eyes were black. My mind was blank. Nothing existed, except the pain. And suddenly, "Bella, stay with me."
"I did not leave your side. Not even after you …." I watched Jacob, trying to see the point he was trying to make. "I have been with you through this from the beginning. From the day he left you, I-"
"Jake," I cut him off. "Stop."
"No, Bella." He lumbered towards me. "I need to make this clear. I need you to know. I love you, Isabella Swan. I will never not be by your side."
"But, imprinting-"
"To hell with imprinting, Bella! It hasn't happened to any of us yet, it's just a myth!"
"Vampires were myths. Werewolves were myths."
"Bella," Jacob stressed between his teeth. He closed the few feet between us, grabbing me by the wrists. "I love you."
I exhaled in, then out, looking him in the eyes. "Jacob, I … I love you, too."
And I did. There was nothing more in the world I loved than Jacob. His serious demeanor melted into a heartfelt smile. He opened his mouth to speak but I threw myself at him, crashing the both of us in to the frosted earth.
I tried to be gentle, but I couldn't help myself. I dragged my fingers down his back, the top of the scratches healing by the time my fingers got to the bottom. To his bottom. Running tended to put people in shape, and as I greedily grabbed on to him, I felt every muscle and tendon under his soft flesh.
I couldn't really say much about being too rough anymore – he ripped my shirt off. The pieces of it were left forgotten when he rolled us over, poising himself on top of me.
"I always knew being naked so often would come in handy one day," he breathed.
I let go of my firm grip on his cheek to smack it. He growled, but it didn't compare to his wolf growl.
"Howl for me," I purred. But I bit on to his lip before he could.
Jacob slowly lowered his body, closer to mine until we were touching. Then, we were connected. Body and soul.
I loved him, I really did.
Everyone knew something was up when we got back. Jacob did run home, after all, and who knows who was shifted at the same time. I was sure the whole pack knew but didn't say anything – just laughed behind our backs.
Cornelia was the only one who didn't notice. She was wrapped up in her own little romance I'd been pretending wasn't happening.
Not that it was much of a romance. She and Paul just flirted constantly. It was a shadow of what Jake and I were before I turned – best friends, not wanting to admit their true feelings.
I couldn't believe I'd originally wanted to discourage such a relationship between the two of them. So what if we were vampires and they were werewolves? Blacks dated whites, didn't they?
Now, Blacks dated Swans.
The problem was bigger than I realized, though. I should have learned that most myths come true, even the ones about imprinting ….
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