The song she sings is David Gray - "This Year's Love"
I woke very early the next morning after confronting Bella and I stared at my ceiling for hours. My eyes counted the cracks, lines, and bumps in the ceiling as the sunrise cast colors across my room and I basked in the rainbow it brought me. My mind flashed back to Jacob yesterday, he had chosen me over her. I pictured it in my mind over and over again, I remember he walked in half asleep, shirtless and tired and my heart skipped a beat. Even half-awake he picked me over her, no hesitation and I couldn't believe what was happening. He said she was a mistake, said loving her, trying to love her was a mistake. Maybe the voice in the back of my head is wrong, maybe I am worth loving after all.
I pondered that for a long while and waited for that voice to come back and scream at me, to say something awful and make me want to hide, but it never came. I closed my eyes and cast out the word, the silence in my mind was welcomed after yesterday's hellish experience. As I lay in my bed I thought about what to do for the day, Jacob was patrolling this morning so I had no real reason to get out of bed, but I decided to go to the beach for a good read.
I sang to myself as the sun rose higher in the sky, dancing around my room dressing as I picked up my clothes,
"This year's love had better last
Heaven knows it's high time
I've been waiting on my own too long
And when you hold me like you do
It feels so right
I start to forget
How my heart gets torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Feeling like I can't go on" I let the words flow from my heart.
It was still early morning so I wrapped myself in my sweater, and jeans and clutched my book to my chest as I trotted down the stairs. The house was chilly and my grandmother was sleeping on the couch holding her tea to her chest. I tiptoed up to her and gently took her tea and set it aside. She stirred slightly and curled into her chest and kept dozing.
On my way out, I turned the heat up and scribbled on the notepad 'Went to the beach to read, love you'. The air outside was brisk and fresh in my lungs as I walked alone. The sky was gray but no rain fell as I walked. The air got colder as I got closer to the beach, the air felt good almost as if it was clearing out the webs from my lungs and opening me to the world as I walked. When I hit the sand, I took my shoes off and savored the cool grains sliding between my toes. The waves crashed against the shore and I knew it would storm later. I settled against a log near the water and let it lap at my toes as I read my book.
The sun was high in the sky and peaking through the clouds when the first few drops fell to the Earth. They were cold as they landed on my skin as I raced back to the parking lot and slipped on my shoes before the rain could cover me with wet sand and leaves. I ran all the way home as the rain fell harder and harder from the dark clouds when I reached my front porch thunder was ringing in my ears and lightning lit up the sky. Plopping into the chair by the front door I shook as much water off of me as I could. I watched the rain fall and counted the second between bouts of thunder and lightning as my clothes dripped dry onto the porch.
A loud bang echoed from inside the house, "Grandma!" I yelled as I jumped to my feet
The front door creaked as I pushed it open, it seemed empty. The lights were off and the house was cold as ice. I walked inside flicking the lights on as I went. My teeth were chattering as I walked through the dark house turning the heat on when I reached the empty living room.
"Grandma! Where are you?" I yelled into the dark house
I walked into the den where I had left grandma sleeping this morning, but she wasn't curled up sleeping as I had left her with her tea. "Grandma," I whispered taking her teacup to the kitchen.
When I clicked on the lights I saw her standing there next to the sink hunched over, "Grandma, are you okay? Why are you standing here in the dark?" I asked coming up behind her. Her skin was icy cold and she looked like death was at her front door.
"Avery?" she asked in a whisper
"Yes, grandma I'm here. What's wrong?" I asked as I wrapped my arms around her frail body
"Call Sam." She told me shivering as I lead her slowly to the couch in the den
"Why? What's wrong? What's going on?" I asked tucking a blanket around her
"One of them came to the house." She croaked out as I sat next to her
"Who did?"
"A vampire. I was making more tea and she walked right into the kitchen."
"Did she hurt you? Are you alright?"
She nodded and waved me off, "She came looking for you, wanted you, but wouldn't say why." She leaned into the back of the couch and closed her eyes, "Call Sam now. Call Jacob, Billy anyone, Avery." She demanded with a soft voice
I pulled the phone from the wall and called Jacob. "It's Jake, you know what to do." Beep.
I cursed, "Jake, I need you to head to my house now. Please hurry."
I hung up dialing Sam's number instead. "Hello." A feminine voice answered
"Emily? Where's Sam?" I asked
"Avery? What's going on? Sam went with the boys. Said something about leaches. What's going on?" she asked panicking
"My grandma was alone today. She said a leach came to the house. I need one of the guys over here now. when did they leave?"
"They left over an hour ago. You should come to my house. The boys should be back soon."
"I can't leave my grandma by herself. Just tell the Jake and Sam to head to my house when you can. Please."
"Of course, I will. Be safe Avery."
"You to Emily," I told her before hanging up. I warmed up some more water and made tea. I brought it to the living room only to find her sleeping.
I left the tea out for her in case she woke and jogged upstairs to change. The upstairs was as dark as the sky outside, the air was still and seemed to suffocate me as I crept through the hall and into my bedroom. I swear I could feel someone staring at me, eyes traveling from my head to my toes. I shivered and I held my breath as I clicked on the light only to find the room empty. I snatched up a change of clothes and dressed in Jacobs sweats, I raced downstairs and curled into myself on the couch and waited for them to get here. I closed my eyes and listened to my grandma snore, the animals outside howl and move as I fell asleep on the couch waiting.
"Avery!" many voices screamed, slamming open the front door as they stomped inside
As the sleep left my eyes I saw Jacob turn the corner and a look of relief passed over his face.
I sprang to my feet and threw my arms around his neck, "Oh, Jake."
He clutched me to his chest and squeezed, "Are you alright?"
I sobbed into his bare chest, "I'm fine. The leach was in the house with my grandma. She could have been hurt or worse."
She coughed from behind us and I pulled free of Jake to go to her. "Are you alright grandma?" I asked brushing her hair back
"I'm fine, child. I was worried about you. You need to leave with this young man of yours. I will not let this creature come back to harm you." She waved me away as she stood trying to push me to the door
I stared at her confused, "But I can't leave you alone…"
She cocked her hip and gave me a look, "Leave me alone? Child, I have been alone more years than you have been alive." She pulled me down to her level and whispered to me, "As for you, I don't think your young man could live a moment without you." The boys snickered near the door, everyone had heard because of their super ears
I blushed, "Grandma…"
"No buts, go pack a bag you're staying with Billy and his son." She pushed me up the stairs and gave me a look that said, 'don't think about it'.
I walked up the stairs and pulled out a small blue duffle bag and packed a few changes of clothes. I packed a few books and as I zipped up the bag and a heavy hand landed on my shoulder.
I fell forward and screamed.
"What the fuck Ave!" Jacob said covering his ears
"What the frick? What do you mean, you're the one that came up behind me!" I said my hand clutching my chest over my heart
He kneeled me next to me and pulled me into his lap. "Are you alright?" he whispered rocking back and forth
I ran my fingers through his hair and kissed his neck. "I was so scared when I got home and she wasn't here. I found her looking like death in the kitchen. God."
"I should have been here to protect you," He said guilt heavy in his voice
I looked him in the eyes and pinched his cheeks, "Don't do that. You had a job to do, you can't always be with me."
He looked at me with serious eyes, "I will be from now on. I promise."
He smiled at me and I felt tears build in my eyes, "I love you," I whispered
His lips met mine and he kissed me softly. His warm tongue slipped into my mouth and our kiss deepened into something filled with love and so much more. I gripped his hair in my hands as I moved to straddled his hips. He growled into my mouth and his calloused palms moved to hold my hips still above his.
With a low rumble, he pulled away and held me as close as he could to his body. He hid his face in my neck breathing deeply.
"I'll protect you." He whispered kissing my forehead.