Nine: Vervain

Elena POV

"Oh, yeah that's me…" I said awkwardly, wondering how the hell he knew my name.

"Would you mind showing me to reception?" Stefan asked and he tried to grin a sweet boy smile, but it didn't sway me.

"It's over there, can't miss it." I pointed towards the room across the corridor and Stefan looked very embarrassed "I got to get to English class, sorry."

"Mind if I walk with you?" Stefan asked and I was seriously getting annoyed, could this guy not take a hint?

"No, that's cool mate," a casual voice said behind me and Jake's warm arm wrapped itself around my shoulders, he grinned at me and then turned a frosty gaze to Stefan "well we got to go, wouldn't want to be late."

Stefan's expression suddenly became grim, but he didn't say anything as we walked away.

"I really don't need you to be my white knight in shinning armour," I told Jake as we walked down the corridor "I can handle myself."

"Elena, I'm hardly a white knight," Jacob chuckled and I rolled my eyes, but couldn't hide my smile "more like Native American knight, but I'd come to your rescue any day."

In English, I only vaguely listened to Mr Tanner's lecture and was too busy thinking about the obvious one moment of tension between Jake and the new guy. How could two people who never met instantly dislike each other? It must be a guy thing. My phone chimed a text and I quickly read it discreetly under my desk.

Bonnie: Your fit boyfriend is looking at YOU!

I looked over my shoulder and saw Jake smile at me, raising a flirtatious eyebrow. I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I turned back to the blackboard. Bonnie knew Jake and I were just friends, but there definitely was something more between us.

The day passed with nothing eventful happening, but everyone continuously looked at me like I was going to burst into hysterical tears or have a mental breakdown. I hated the pitying stares, but I seriously hated that the teachers thought I was using my parents' deaths as an excuse for not knowing the random questions they threw at me.

At the end of the day, I walked to the Mystic Falls cemetery alone, wanting to be in my true sanctuary while I tried to rearrange my thoughts. As I walked down the path, I could have sworn I'd heard a crow screech in a nearby tree, but when I turned there was nothing there.

I found Mum and Dad's tombstone, sat against the nearby oak tree and pulled my little green diary and a pen from my rucksack. This book was the one person I could tell my true feelings to and not be judged, I turned to a clean page and began to write:

Dear Diary,

I made it through the day. I must have said "I'm fine, thanks." at least thirty-seven times and I didn't mean it once, but no one noticed… The truth is, when someone asks "how are you?" they really don't care about the answer. Except Jake, he always seems to read my every thought like a book. I really care about him, but I'm scared of what will happen if we become more than friends. I don't want to lose him.

A crow landed on my parents' grave and screeched at me, causing me to jump with fright and look up. I gave a sigh of relief when I just saw a bird, shaking my head.

"Okay, hi bird," I gave it a smile and he screeched at me, but I turned back to my book "not creepy or anything…"

The bird gave one last screech and flew away, leaving in a whoosh of black feathers and soared out of sight.

Jacob POV

I walked into the Boarding House living room, to find my dad and Mrs Flowers drinking coffee. My face broke into a wide grin, I'd missed Dad like crazy and I hadn't seen him since I left Forks.

"Dad!" I said cheerfully and Dad turned his wheelchair and quickly pushed himself to meet me, grinning broadly.

"Hello, son" Dad said as I hugged him tightly.

"I'll give you two a moment," Mrs Flowers said, walking out the room as I sat on the sofa and Dad parked his chair next to me.

"Tell me everything," Dad said, but sounded generally interested instead of pissed off as I had expected.

I told him about it all: imprinting on Elena, the car crash, how Sam tried to force me to obey his orders, Seth and Leah joining my pack and about the new breed of vampires in this town.

"I saw the vamp who was at the lake in May, he was trying to chat up Elena."

My gut twisted with anger at the thought of another leech trying to destroy my relationship.

"He didn't hurt her?" Dad asked with concern and I shook my head.

"I would have killed him if he had, trust me" I said firmly and meant it "but Dad. Elena is nothing like Bella. Elena's warm, and she's kind, and she's caring and she's selfless. When I'm with her, she makes me forget every bit of hurt and I know I can just be me.

"Oh sweet spirits," Dad said with a grin "you're in love with her, Jacob."

"Yeah, I think I am." I said with a grin.

"Good to hear," Dad said, pulling a box from his jacket and giving it to me "because I want you to give this to her."

I opened the box to see a pure silver necklace inside, with intertwine carvings that looked like vines on the pendent and a small blood red ruby in the centre. I could smell a sweet scent that reminded me of a rose, but not completely and I thought it smelled quite nice.

"What is this?" I asked.

"It's the necklace worn by your great grandmother when your great grandfather was the rightful chief of the La Push Tribe," Dad said and his voice was suddenly full of pride "legend says it contains a mystical herb called vervain and it is said to protect its wearer from vampire influences, I think it should be your soul mate who should wear this."

"Dad, it's amazing. I can't thank you enough." I said quietly, giving my dad another hug.

"Just make sure she likes it and you should tell her how you feel, she probably feels the same way."

I knew he was right and I nodded, too happy to speak. Giving Elena something that was sentimental to my family and can protect her from vampires, it will really show how much she means to me and hopefully she'll like it. I decided I would give her the necklace tomorrow night, the comet was going to be passing the town and I couldn't have asked for a more romantic setting, then I would tell her how I felt about her. Imprint or no imprint, I was in love with Elena Gilbert for who she was and hopefully she feels the same.

Bella POV

My body ached with the pain deep in my gut and I laid curled in a ball on my bed, breathing heavily through my heart wrenching sobs. Jacob was gone, he had abandoned me and now I just felt an emptiness where Jacob Black had been. I had once compared Jacob's love to the sun, but Edward eclipsed that love with his powerful moon. Now that my sun was gone, my world was cold and frozen. Jake had imprinted… he had really fallen in love with someone else, leaving me alone. I had been so certain I was meant to be with Edward Cullen and live for an eternity with him as a vampire, but now I wasn't sure. I needed to see him, to be certain of who I was meant to be with.

My bed dipped slightly as someone sat on it and cool hands stroked my face, trying to soothe me.

"I hate seeing you like this," Edward's voice said gently "what can I do?"

I looked at him through my tears, those beautifully golden eyes filled with so much love and concern.

"Find Jake," I said shakily and his features harden in anger "I need to see him, to speak to him…"

"Is that what you really want?" Edward asked stiffly and I nodded silently "then it shall be done, my love."

Edward placed a soft kiss on my forehead and in a sudden blur, he vanished from sight.