Twilight Romeo & Juliet: Jacob Black, seriously?
Chapter Ten: Remorse
My hand squeezed Jacob's in alarm. He stood so still, I couldn't tell if he was breathing or not.
"Jake?" I asked him urgently.
His expression flickered from frightened and changed to one of remorse and anger. Jake's normally calm and content demeanor was suddenly hard. When he spoke his voice was acidic.
"It's them," he said, and changed direction swiftly.
"What? Who are them?" my brow furrowed in confusion as I ran to keep up with Jake.
"It's Sam, and his La Push gang," he spat the title as if it were a disease.
"They don't appear like a gang, Jacob …" I said.
"To the La Push council, they aren't. To them, they're the best damn thing. Apparently they 'keep the peace' on the reserve," I could detect his use of air quotes.
"So they are peace keepers. No biggie …"
"No, it is a biggie, to me, at least. They treat me like I'm going to become one of them someday! I hate it!" he exclaimed.
"What's the big deal? You say 'some day', so you shouldn't have to worry about them, Jake," I informed him.
"I guess. I get bad vibes from them though. Especially Sam," he said with a hint of defeat.
"Oh yeah, Jacob. They look like ferocious beasts, loitering on a park bench, my God," I decided to play a bit more, anticipating his reaction.
"I'm serious, Ami."
"So am I, they look harmless," and then it hit me. The reason Jacob had such an abrupt and inexcusable hatred on these overgrown adolescents was because they must have done something to deserve that kind of hate and disrespectfulness. But, in my view, they really did look harmless, or maybe it was just that I wasn't looking through their charade. Who knows? They looked perfectly at ease, like they really were attempting to keep the peace. Except for the permanent scowl that was etched on their russet faces. I thought they were only supposed to keep the peace in La Push, so why were they in Forks?
"That's it. They glower like that to everyone. Almost like they want the impression that 'if you do something wrong, you'll have to deal with us'. If that's the case, for my sake, don't hang around them, please?" he pleaded.
"'Kay, Jacob. For you," I replied. I stretched onto my tippy-toes, as high as I could go, and leaned toward Jacob's face. He caught the lame-hint, and kissed me. I never realized how much … energy and passion I threw into that kiss. When Jake kissed me, he always left me breathless and gasping for air. My heart would thump wildly. If my life had a remote, I'd press pause, so I could stay that close to him forever. I've never wanted him more than I did at that moment. I hugged myself closer to him, and he held me tighter.
"There's nothing that could ruin this moment, Jake," I laid my head against his chest; I could feel his cheek resting against my hair.
He sighed.
"Ami, you're really different from the other girls I know. You're the one I've felt a strong connection with. It might sound corny, considering how early it is, but … ah, it doesn't matter," he chuckled. His shoulders shook slightly.
"Let's go, Jake. Mike and Alex are probably getting fed up with going all romantic on them."
"I always forget their even with us," he laughed again. He let go of me, and I – sadly – unraveled myself from him. What a change of pace, Jacob.