*I'm changing this to M. I went places I didn't think I was going to go. It's really bordering a T rating at this point and I think it'll only get worse (or better). I hope you still enjoy it. And for those of you who don't want to read M rated sotries, sorry.
It was time for a run. I'd been studying since six in the morning; that's nine hours. I hadn't Changed in almost a week, since my parents came and left. The stitches had fallen out of my wounds in the shower this morning so I knew it was time. I felt the itching in my legs that was becoming a too-familiar sensation. I could wait a few more hours; it would be dark and the risk of being seen far less. I leaned back over my books, grabbing a pencil and writing more notes in my notebook. Jacob stirred behind me, in my bed.
"We should go." He said, he could practically read my mind now.
"Not yet." I said. "We should wait until dark."
"Forget it. You need to now. It's Thursday, skip class tomorrow, we can go up to La Push for the weekend. You can meet my dad."
"Really?" I turned to him.
"Of course. "
"No." I shook my head. "I have to pass in those photos to my photography class."
He knew he wouldn't win this one. Photography was my favorite class and I wouldn't skip it. Jacob didn't argue. So I waited until after dark to start heading outside. Jacob followed of course and I wasn't surprised to see Logan coming out of his building, jogging to catch up with us.
"Hey." Logan said happily. "You going for a run?"
"What do you think?" I asked heading into the woods.
"I think that's what we're doing."
I was overly relieved to Change, even if it was more painful from waiting so long. The woods had been calling me for days. Jacob stood waiting for me patiently in his wolf form when I entered the clearing. I envied that he could do it so quickly and painlessly.
We didn't go far; after all I did have class in the morning. And we didn't hunt either; we just ran through the woods enjoying the cold air in our lungs and damp earth beneath our paws. Jacob continuously egged me to go farther and deeper into the woods but I knew he was trying to get me to go to La Push and that wasn't happening tonight. I started back toward campus. We'd only gone a few miles so it only took ten minutes to get back. I Changed, got dressed and walked into the clearing where Jacob waited, still in his wolf form.
"I'm not going to La Push tonight." I said looking into his big brown eyes. "You can go if you want to; I'll meet you there tomorrow night."
Suddenly he Changed; in the blink of an eye. He approached me, in his glorious nakedness. I was stunned for a few moments by this. Not because he was nude, that was perfectly acceptable in my world, but that he was so beautiful, so perfect in every way. I fought to keep my eyes on his and not let them wander.
"I want you to come with me." He said quietly, cupping my face.
I let the air out of my lungs. I was floating, so it seemed. When Jacob smiled I couldn't contain myself. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his. His hands went to the small of my back and pulled me against him.
"Oh, c'mon man. Not my sister!"
I broke the kiss and backed away from Jacob.
"And with no clothes on. That just--. I don't want to see you making out with my sister with no clothes on."
"Logan." I said looking into the tree tops.
"Sorry I interrupted your little… whatever but, Kat, mom and dad have called like eight times."
"Shit." I said and started walking back toward the campus before stopping short. I walked back to Jacob and kissed him again. "Go. I'll be there tomorrow."
He was smiling when I looked back at him. I wanted to run back into his arms but my brain beat out my heart and I walked onto the field back to my dorm room to call my parents.
"Where have you been?" My mom teased.
"We went for a run." I explained.
"Oh." She sounded disappointed. "I thought you were with your boyfriend."
"Mom…"
"Can you blame me? I haven't had the chance until now to prod into my daughter's love life. Is he a good kisser?"
Yes. "I don't want to talk about this right now." I said.
"Oh, is he there?"
"I have to go to bed."
"Fine. Don't tell me. I'll just have to pester it out of you at Christmas."
"Goodnight, mom." I said.
"Good night." She sang and hung up the phone.
I smiled. Despite the fact that she was nagging and prodding me, I loved having those little conversations with my mother. After heading to the bathroom to brush my teeth, I got in my pajamas and crawled into my bed. It was oddly cold and I felt like I had way too much room. I hoped that Jacob wouldn't be spending too many nights away from me like this. It took longer than usual but I eventually fell asleep only to dream about being with him again.
I woke up late the next morning and had to run to my first class. A four hour lecture on the effects modern art would have in the eighteenth century. My thoughts: we'd be marked as witches and burned at the steak. I met Logan for lunch and headed to my Photography class.
"Didn't bring your guard with you today?" I heard behind me as I settled in.
"Oh. Hi, Harvey." I smiled.
"Should I sit across the room or is it alright to talk to you today?" He asked.
"Just sit." I said.
"Did you get some good shots?" He asked.
"A few." I shrugged. "I didn't actually get up to the beach so…"
"You should have come with me."
"Maybe next time." I said as the professor walked into the classroom and started the class.
I got good feedback on my pictures. Not great. The teacher remarked again on my lack of industrial subjects. He hoped that I would get into the city or around campus to take some shots. I tried to take it as constructive criticism but I was disappointed in myself. It must have shown on my face.
"You OK?" Harvey leaned over.
"Yeah." I nodded.
"You seem a little tense."
"I don't take criticism lightly." I said.
"I thought your pictures were great."
A small smile lifted on my face. "Thanks."
"Listen, my room mates and I are having a little party tonight. You should come and have a beer."
"I'm only nineteen." I whispered to him.
"Do you always follow the rules?" He smirked and leaned back into his seat.
I smiled and shook my head. We didn't speak for the rest of class. When the professor dismissed the class I gathered up my things and started for the door.
"Bye." I said to Harvey.
"Hey, hold on." He said walking next to me. "You gonna swing by tonight?"
"I don't know." I said unsurely. "I don't really drink."
"You don't have to drink. We can just hang out." He smiled.
"I'm supposed to be meeting Jake."
"The body guard?"
That was a little uncomfortable.
"Bring him, I promise it'll be fun."
"He's in La Push but I'll come by for a few minutes." I said. "I do have plans tonight though."
"Yes, you do." He smiled and walked from the room. "I'll see you at seven."
I went back to my dorm room and changed my clothes, caught up on some schoolwork, cleaned a little. What else could I fill my time up with? I went into town and got something to eat, went to the bookstore, picked up a few snacks for my dorm. Finally seven came around and I walked over to Harvey's house that he shared with other students. I got an uneasy feeling as I approached the fast-filling house. It wasn't easy for me to be around so many humans. It wasn't just the smells I encountered; their minds worked differently than ours did. They're sneaking and conniving and back stabbers. Werewolves have complete loyalty in their Pack. Of course as I reached the bottom step of the front porch my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?"
"Hi." Jacob's sweet voice carried over the line.
"Oh. Hey." I smiled.
"Where are you? I thought you'd be here by now."
"Um. Harvey invited me to his party so I figured I'd make an appearance and start heading over there."
"A party?" His voice seemed mildly outraged.
"Yeah." I said.
"I don't want you going to a party. Just come over here."
"Jake, I'm not going to be rude. I'll just pop in and say hi then leave. It's not like I can stand the smell anyway."
"Is Logan with you?"
"No. I'm heading over to La Push after; do you want me to bring Logan?"
"You shouldn't go to a party alone. Go back to your dorm; if you really have to go to this asshole's party I'm coming with you."
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I don't need a body guard." I argued, getting angered by his possessive attitude.
"I can't believe you were even talking to that guy after he was hitting on you last week."
"He's only being nice." I said. "And I'm being nice in return. I'm going to this party, I'll have a beer then I'll be on my way to La Push."
I hung up the phone before he could come up with something else that would piss me off.
When I walked into the house the smell of beer, smoke and humans swirled around me. The music was loud and the people trying to be louder. I already knew that I wouldn't be here long. I moved my way through the crowd, looking for Harvey so I could say hi and prove that I'd shown up.
"Oh Katherine!" I heard my name called behind me. Harvey walked between a few couples to get over to me. "I'm so glad you came."
"Thanks for inviting me." I forced a smile.
"You don't seem too happy."
"Oh. Uh, Jake's giving me shit for coming alone."
"You're not alone." He said indicating at all the people surrounding us. "Do you want a beer?"
"Just one." I said. "I have to get going after though."
"That was the deal." He smiled. "C'mon."
I followed him through the crowd. He said his hellos to other people as we made our way into the kitchen. He grabbed a beer from the fridge, opened it and put it in my hand.
"Thanks." I said, taking the first sip. It tasted awful.
"C'mon out back it's a little quieter." He said and I followed him again.
The back yard with spacious and went right into the dark forest. His patio was set up for barbeques with lots of seating. He sat on a bench and motioned for me to join him.
"So the body guard doesn't want you here?" He asked. "Is it because of me?"
"You're part of the reason, I think." I rolled my eyes.
"Where did you meet this guy?"
"It was a few years ago… we lost contact but we ended up meeting again, oddly and one thing lead to another I guess."
"He seems like a possessive asshole to be honest with you." Harvey laughed.
"He's very protective." I nodded. "It's not always a bad thing."
"I figure you to be a pretty headstrong type of girl. It's kind of surprising that you're with a protective guy."
I smiled. This wasn't a good conversation to be having with him.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" I asked, turning the tables.
"Nah. I'm not really a relationship kind of guy." He shrugged.
"You can't commit." I said bluntly.
"Well, I mean--."
I laughed as I tried to come up with a good excuse.
"I'm focusing on school."
"Yeah cuz having a huge party is as real study oriented activity." I pointed out.
"Get off my back, mom." He teased.
"I should probably get going." I said after a little laugh.
"One more beer. You have to admit you're having a good time." He said standing. "I'll go get it for you."
He came back a few minutes later with another filled cup. I sipped it quickly; the patio was filling up quickly, my guess was because the house was getting too full. I talked with Harvey a little longer, mostly about our photo class then said goodnight to him. He walked me back through the house and out the front door. I stumbled a little down the last step. Harvey caught me by the arm.
"You OK?" He asked. "Do you want me to walk you back to your dorm?"
"No, I'm fine." I said. "Just tripped."
"Alright. You sure?"
"Yeah." I said. "Two beers aren't going to do anything to me."
"I think I should make sure you get back alright."
I started feeling… drunk. Was that even possible? Harvey took my arm and started walking back toward the college campus.
"Really, Harvey. I'm fine." I shook my head only making it worse. I stumbled again.
"I don't think you're fine." Harvey said with a chuckle.
"Harvey." I said severely. "Just leave me alone."
He laughed again as I stumbled away from him but still he followed.
"If you're not going to let me help you then I'm going to follow you so that I know you got back safe."
"I'm not going to my dorm. I'm going to La Push."
"You're gonna drive?" He said it overly loud. "I don't think that's a safe plan."
I couldn't figure out why I was the way I was. I had only had two beers right? I was so clouded and confused that this point that I didn't know how much I had been drinking that night. And having never been given the chance to get drunk, I didn't know how much alcohol I could actually handle; though Jeremy mentioned once that it took a lot of alcohol to get a werewolf drunk. Harvey was still following me when I looked over my shoulder. I was hoping that the floating, clouded, drunk feeling would ease up as I walked but it only got worse as time went on. When I stumble on my dorm stoop I headed face first into on of the steps. Of course I would injure myself; luckily this time it was just a split lip. I cursed loudly, wiping my lip.
"See? You got hurt. Aren't you glad that I came along?" He smiled. "And I thought you weren't going to your dorm?"
Oh, right. Where was I going?
"Will you let me help you inside now?" He asked, helping me to my feet.
He hooked my arm around his shoulders and half-carried me up the stairs. I heard my name distantly but when Harvey didn't look around I wondered if I'd only imagined it. When I heard it again, as Harvey opened the door and began to bring me inside I stopped him.
"Katie!" I couldn't see well through the darkness but I recognized the voice.
Harvey was pulling my inside when I heard it again. I stumbled trying to stop him and fell to the ground. When I looked up I saw, to my surprise a pair of amber eyes gazing down at me with concern.
"Are you alright?" His voice echoed in my head.
"Hey man, beat it; she'll be fine once I get her inside." Harvey said. "She's had a little too much to drink tonight."
"Katie?" Edward was looking into my eyes; I found it incredibly difficult to focus on him. "How much did you drink?"
"Uh… I don't know." I said trying to remember back. I only got as far as falling on the steps before everything just became a swirl of cloudiness.
The concern etched in Edward's face was alarming.
"Who the hell are you anyways? I've never seen you around here before." Harvey said getting in Edward's face.
"I'm a friend." Edward explained, not looking for any trouble but exuding power. "I'll take her to the hospital."
"No!" I said loudly. I couldn't go to the hospital, they'd want tests and blood and that wasn't in the cards for a werewolf, too many questions would pop up. "I can't go."
"See? She doesn't want to. Get lost."
"Katie?" Edward got down to my level again. "I'm going to take you to Carlisle."
Oh. That would be OK. I nodded, making the world spin again and struggled to my feet with Edward's help. Harvey continued to argue as I walked away from him with Edward's help. Edward seemed to be in quite a hurry to get out of there and he also seemed to be fuming. When we were out of sight of the dorm and in the woods Edward picked me up, slung me over his shoulder and ran. I didn't realize how fast we were actually going, though had I been sober I would have seen it was over 100 mph. But in my condition I didn't care or worry about it.
*R/R
