Jacob could see the thick, orange sun rising through his bedroom window and he knew very well that he was getting no sleep. Out of frustration, he showered early and made breakfast for both him and Billy. When Billy wheeled out of bedroom he was welcome with the smell of bacon and eggs – the one thing that Jacob could make without burning.
"You're beginning to scare me kid." Billy said as he wheeled himself to his spot at the table. Jacob placed a large plate filled with two eggs, half a dozen pieces of bacon and toast covered with jam in front of him. He then placed a plate of sliced tomatoes and a jar of Miracle Whip in the center of the table.
"Just in case you want to make a sandwich," Jacob said quietly as he grabbed his own plate which was piled with food. Billy prepared his sandwich silently and took a bite that left the sound of a satisfying crunch. After a few moments he spoke,
"So, that girl, you like her or something?"
"Dad, please." Jacob begged; his dad was not the person he wanted to talk to about her.
"I'm just saying," Billy began taking a bite in between his sentence, "She's a nice girl."
"I know." Jacob agreed, "How did you know why she moved here?"
"Sue told me one day a few weeks ago. Fran contacted her saying they were coming back and to let me know." Billy explained. "They haven't had the easiest summer, Holly's Dad was killed."
"What?" Jacob asked shocked.
"You didn't know that? She didn't tell you?" Billy asked just as surprised as Jacob was.
"I knew that he had died, but I didn't know he was killed." Jacob explained. "What happened?"
"You can't tell me that you didn't ask, Jake, come on." Billy looked at Jacob square in the eye.
"I did, Dad, but she just said that he died. Now tell me what happened." Jacob demanded.
"About a month ago they found her father dead in an alleyway in the sketchy part of Vancouver; he had been missing for two days." Billy sighed. "There had obviously been a struggle; he was just left in the open, not covered or anything, apparently he looked as if he had been ravished by a pack of rapid dogs."
Jacob remained silent as he glanced at his half-eaten breakfast; he suddenly wasn't hungry anymore.
"Anyways, Fran didn't want to remain in the city, let alone Canada, anymore so she moved back here with Holly. I couldn't imagine what they went through." Billy finished his breakfast in silence. After he was finished Jacob cleaned up the kitchen and waited outside for Embry.
The ride to school was silent; Quil was asleep as per usual and Embry was irritated at something but Jacob didn't pry; he wasn't in a conversational mood anyway so it didn't bother him. Once they arrived at school Jacob climbed the stairs to the second floor where his locker sat. Holly was standing beside the locker; fiddling with the cord of her iPod.
"I forgot the combination." Holly said embarrassed. Jacob just smiled and opened the locker. He threw his backpack in the locker and she did the same only grabbing a folder right after. The folder was jam-packed with pieces of sheet music and was plastered with photographs and stickers.
"Are you alright?" Holly asked suspicious of Jacob's mood.
"Yeah, I just didn't get much sleep," Jacob explained, "And I really don't want to go to auto. I hate safety week."
"Tell me about it, the theory work my teacher is giving us is next to pathetic. It took me a night to do and we are supposed to be working on this package the whole week." Holly held up a package of completed theory work. The bell sounded seconds later and Jacob let out a long whine. "Do you want to go somewhere? I really don't feel like going to first period."
"Where are we going to go?" Jacob asked intrigued.
"Anywhere," Holly said desperately.
"Definitely up for that." Jacob agreed and they rushed out of the school and into Holly's car.
"The town center is five minutes down the road and there is a coffee shop right beside the grocery store." Jacob informed Holly as she tore out of the parking lot.
"Good, I could use a coffee." She joked. It only took a few minutes to reach the town center however, there wasn't much to see. There was a grocery store and a restaurant along with a few other shops. The coffee shop was the only place worth going to. Holly parked and they walked inside together. The aroma of fresh ground coffee and warm and sugary doughnuts wafted through the doorway when Jacob opened it.
"Life is beautiful." Holly joked as she took in the smell of coffee. "It's definitely not Starbucks, but it is still beautiful." Jacob let out a boisterous laugh which echoed off the mural-covered walls.
"I'll take a large Earl Grey, black, please." Jacob ordered, "What do you want?"
"I can pay for myself," Holly said as she took out her wallet.
"I'm sure you can, but so can I. You can get the next one." Jacob joked. She smiled and gave in.
"I'll have a medium, fresh-ground, with one sugar." She said and within minutes they filled their hands with cups of steaming goodness. They finished their drinks while consumed in two puffy, bean-bag chairs that sat in the corner of the shop. Although they spent the time quietly mocking other customers, Jacob still had the question that he had wanted to ask since last night corrosively burning his insides. Holly seemed to be in a good mood and Jacob didn't want to bring her down so he let it be; he would get the chance to ask her later. On the way back to school, Holly told a story about her friends back in Vancouver.
"I come here and I finally realize the definition of normal. These kids were acting like they were in their mid-twenties and doing nothing, going nowhere, with their lives." She explained.
"When you think about it though, they've experienced so much more than the majority of the people here, I mean, three-quarters of us have not seen outside Washington and some have never been out of the reserve. We've grown up in a completely different environment." Jacob added; Holly nodded her head in agreement.
"I know exactly what you mean."
As they reached school they both realized that time was itching very close to the beginning of second period. Holly parked her car at rapid speed and together they booked it to the change room. They both managed to make it into the gym just as the teacher was blowing the whistle. Jacob could see Holly let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright you animals," the teacher said, noticing that Embry had Quil in a tight headlock with no intention of letting him go anytime soon, "Embry, please." Embry released Quil who looked extremely frazzled as he stood up straight again.
"Now today we are doing rope climbing and flexibility testing among other things." Quil sighed; they might have been able to climb the rope with one hand but when it came to touching their toes, they were hopeless.
"Okay, split into three co-ed groups." Immediately after the teacher informed them of their task there began a mad dash to find a group. Jacob, Embry and Quill stuck together and Jacob called Holly and Leah to join them. Carter joined next and two other girls in the class followed. Justine and Vivian were the dictionary definition of irritating and had ridiculously prissy attitudes that made Jacob want to strangle himself whenever they talked. Their first station was the rope.
"Why are their names on the roof?" Holly asked Jacob as she noticed a bunch of scribbled names in marker above where the rope was fastened to the ceiling.
"When you reach the top you sign your name; I'm up there three times." Jacob bragged as he pointed to the places where he's signed his name. She noticed Leah, Embry and Quil all had their names up there as well. Embry went first, reaching the top in record speed. Jacob, Quil, Carter, and Leah followed just as effortlessly. When Jacob reached the ground he found his spot beside Holly again.
"I'm next." Justine demanded as she grabbed a hold of the rope; flashing a smile at Jacob. She had flung herself at Jacob numerous times throughout high school and Jacob showed no interest; Justine definitely wasn't his type. She didn't even get half-way up before she slid down again; tearing up her hands on the rope.
"Oh my god, I think I got a sliver!" Justine whined, "Jake, can you see anything." She held her palm out to Jacob. Holly tried to be serious but ended up bursting out laughing and everyone joined in.
"And who do you think you are laughing at me." Justine questioned Holly, getting closer and closer to her face.
"Excuse me?" Holly said getting just as close.
"Don't you ever laugh at me again or you'll get it." Justine began flinging her finger in Holly's face; making her laugh harder.
"Get what?" Holly asked sarcastically.
"Justine, honestly, you skinned your palm in one spot, besides, you know that you can't slide down it." Jacob informed her, breaking up the tension.
"Hmph," Justine stood back, "No normal girl can do that anyway." Leah looked at her with wide eyes and smirk plastered on her face.
"Holly's next," Carter stated, handing her the marker. She took the marker in her mouth and began her ascent on the tired-looking rope. Within seconds she had scurried to the top and was holding her entire weight with one arm. On the roof she wrote, 'Holly Juturna – the most unordinary girl ever' with a heart beside it.
"Would you like me to write your name up here Justine?" Holly asked still holding herself at the top of the rope. "It's obvious that your normality will never allow you the chance." Justine looked at Holly horrified when everyone burst out into hysterics. Embry and Quil applauded Holly's wit and Quil bowed to her as she landed solidly on the ground. Leah jumped on her in amazement,
"You never cease to make a day interesting Hol'."
As everyone moved to the next station Jacob held his hands up and Holly gave him two high-fives, grasping his hands after each one.
"That made my day," Jacob said, keeping hold of Holly's hands.
"That should make your year," Holly joked, "I hate girls like that."
"She's watching you," Jacob informed her,
"I can feel my flesh melting off my bones." Holly said sarcastically, letting go of Jacob's hands.
Flexibility was none of the guys' fortes so they sat out and it left Leah, Holly and Vivian to compete; Justine had gone to get her hand bandaged.
"Leah's got this one." Quil exclaimed.
"I don't know; Holly's a dancer." Leah informed them, looking at Holly. Sure enough, Holly floored the competition with her ability to do the splits in all three directions and while in her left splits, bringing her toe to touch the back of her head. She left everyone awestruck.
"You certainly like making a scene, don't you new girl?" Embry asked still in shock as the class piled towards the change rooms.
"I try." Holly joked as she entered the girls' door. In the boys' change room; Quil and Embry were prying at Jacob intensely.
"Dude, she's hot." Quil admitted to Jacob, "You need to ask her out, it's obvious she's got something for you."
"Quil, she's attractive, but Jake, seriously, get your ass moving. She won't wait forever." Embry said, knowing Jacob's little secret.
"She came over last night--" Jacob said sending his friends into a spin cycle before he could finish his sentence.
"What?!" Embry and Quil shouted in unison.
"Did you make a move?" Quil asked while ungracefully jumping onto the bench and moving his hips in inappropriate motions, "Bow chicka wow-wow." Jacob punched him firmly in the arm.
"Quil, would you please act like you didn't just hit puberty," Embry looked at Quil intently, "What did you guys do?"
"She stayed for dinner, we went for a walk, I don't know." Jacob explained sheepishly as he pulled his shirt back over his head. Embry gave Jacob a high-five and continued to scold Quil about how he was successful at making every conversation awkward.
"Man, that's how I do." Quil informed Embry as the three boys walked out of the change room. Quil, walking backwards, ran right into Holly and Leah as they were coming out of the girls' room.
"Watch it." Leah said shoving him back towards Embry and Jacob. Holly let out her infamous laugh that Jacob loved. Watching her, he never realized just how attractive she was. He knew she was good-looking but he had never looked at her that way much before. Holly was easily model material with her slender but curvaceous figure and flawless face. She was irresistible.
"Why hello ladies, beautiful day aren't it?" Quil mocked in an English accented tone as he strung his arm through both Leah and Holly's. Embry and Jacob followed behind them to the cafeteria. As they were entering through the swinging doors, Holly tilted her head back and flashed Jacob a smile. Embry gave him a nudge and giggled to himself. Jade had sent lunches for the three boys again today which gave Jacob the satisfaction of a full stomach for at least an hour. Holly had received more criticism from Embry after she pulled out a Tupperware container filled with a bizarre type of salad that she called Bok Choy. Ten minutes before the bell rang for third period Holly stood up off the bench and strung her bag over her shoulder.
"Where are you going?" Leah asked Holly, finishing up the celery and peanut butter she brought for lunch.
"Locker," Holly answered, taking the last bite of her once monstrous, granny smith apple.
"Need company?" Jacob asked.
"Sure." Jacob and Holly strolled side-by-side out of the cafeteria and up the stairs towards their locker.
"So," Jacob said, "Are you an ex-circus performer or can you just naturally twist your body into unnatural positions?"
"I danced until I moved; but I've always been able to do that. I have a very flexible back and legs; the disorder is called contortionism." She answered as she took the lock off.
"Interesting." Jacob laughed as he took his backpack out of the locker.
"You mean strange?" Holly joked as she replaced a few books in her bag with some in her locker. One of her folders ended up toppling out of her hands and onto the floor; flinging paper everywhere. "Shit."
Jacob bent down and grabbed a handful that fell at his feet. He couldn't help noticing the sketch of a giant, shaded wolf in the pile of papers.
"That's really good," He said facing the drawing towards Holly. She blushed.
"Thanks, I love wolves." She said taking the papers out of Jacob's hands.
"I'm assuming you've heard the legends of the reserve then, right?" Jacob asked swallowing hard and feeling his palms starting to sweat. He knew that Gordon Juturna knew very well what La Push's inner society was hiding. He just wasn't sure if Holly knew of it as a legend or the truth.
"Of course; but since I've come back here I've been having dreams that they're true, which is absurd." She said, "I always end up sketching my dreams." Jacob felt his head spin, she was dreaming about him? It took him a minute to respond.
"They're pretty cool to listen to. I used to love when my dad would tell them to Embry, Quil and I as kids."
"Yeah, my Papa tells me them every once in a while. He also tells me that not many people know about them so I'm rather shocked that you brought it up." Holly said.
"Only a few families know of them; the one's who have lived here for many generations like our families, and the Ateara's, the Clearwater's, the Uley's, and the Call's among others." Jacob informed Holly as they approached their class room. The rest of the day went by quickly unlike the day before. Holly and Jacob met up at the locker again before they were about to leave.
"I'd ask you to come over but I'm going to Port Angeles with my Mom to go shopping." Holly said disappointedly.
"S'okay," Jacob said, "Tomorrow?"
"Of course," Holly answered immediately increasing in enthusiasm. Together they walked out of the school towards the parking lot and Jacob noticed Embry and Quil waving at him from the jeep.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow Hol." Jacob said, starting towards the jeep.
"Wait," Holly began, "Do you have a cell?"
"Yeah," Jacob answered.
"Can I have the number?" Holly asked, trying to her rose-tinted cheeks.
"Sure." She handed him the phone ready for him to enter his number. After he was done he hit the save button and couldn't help but noticing that his number was saved under 'Jacob :)'. She gave him her number and they said goodbye. Jacob tried to regain composure upon climbing into the jeep.
"Would you please just ask her out before this kills me, man?!" Quil shouted from the front seat. Jacob laughed and stared at the phone in his hands.
"That's a nice car." Embry noted, watching Holly speed out of the parking lot.
"I know; it's just as nice inside." Jacob informed his friends as they watched the car until it was out of sight.
"How did she manage to pay for that?" Quil asked as Embry started the rickety and beastly sounding engine of the jeep.
"I don't think she did." Jacob answered warily. "She said something about how her friends were really into cars back in Vancouver."
"I wish." Embry said as he pulled the jeep out of the parking lot. In the middle of a conversation about how they are not interested in reading Pygmalion in English, Quil interrupted.
"Seriously, this is bothering me," he began, "You need to ask her out. It's obvious you're crazy about each other. I've never seen you so in to someone before."
Both Embry and Jacob looked at him. Quil noticed a second later that he was being stared down.
"I'm not lying, man, the way you look at Holly doesn't even compare to the way you looked at Bella." The name made Jacob shudder. They were silent for a few moments; Embry and Jacob still remained in shock from Quil's observation. Jacob had never compared her to Bella; Holly was a completely different person. He thought about it for a moment. Holly was so much more outgoing than Bella ever was, and she wasn't nearly as spastic and prone to disaster which is something Jacob decided he'd rather. Holly was easier to talk to, but there was still so much he wanted to know. Last but not least, Jacob found himself attracted more to Holly's appearance over Bella's. When compared to Holly, Bella seemed plain and average meanwhile Holly was stunning.
As the boys got closer to their homes, Embry broke the silence, "Who wants to do something?"
"Can't," Quil began, "I've got to work."
"I'm up for anything." Jacob added.
"Of course he is. Holly isn't around tonight." Quil joked. Jacob shot him a look. After dropping Quil off at his house Embry began the drive back towards his own place.
"Sam crossed the border last night." Embry informed Jacob.
"What? Why?" Jacob asked in response; confusion clouding his thoughts.
"Check up on things, you know." Embry said.
"You don't have to bullshit me Em'," Jacob began, "He went there to see if they changed her yet." Embry remained quiet for a few moments before nodding his head. "What did he find? Or do I want to know?"
"They're gone."