Physiology and Anatomy for beginners

Jesse's POV:

I was wondering when I should tell Ali. I couldn't just tell her now because we weren't that close and she wouldn't want to be with me forever. I wouldn't know how to tell her. Soon, after we'd got to know each other. The imprinting might freak her out. I was so thankful that she'd already accepted the existence of shifters; I wonder if she knows about vampires.

Ali was at school today. I'd been hanging around the building the whole time and it was killing me that I couldn't see her, I couldn't even hear her because there were so many other little giggling voices.

It was almost lunch and I hoped she'd eat outside so I could see her. The bell rang and the school was filled with the soft patter of dozens of little feet. After about five minutes, the doors opened.

Lots of little people came out and sat down on benches or started playing games. My little Ali came out a bit later too, talking to Lin Lin and some other of her friends. I decided I'd just watch over her from a distance incase a teacher asked me what I was doing, talking to a little girl.

She seemed quite content just sitting where she was and eating her sandwich. The freaky imprinting thing told me she was happy where she was and she didn't need me. I felt quite useless but I got used to it and settled down just to watch her.

In that time, I noticed a few things. She was very beautiful for a little girl. I could see where her features would develop. Her face was in perfect proportions, her beautiful deep chocolate eyes, in align with her little button nose and her mouth chomping away at her lunch. She was adorable.

She was also very intelligent. The way she spoke was nothing I'd ever heard a little child sound. She spoke with perfect clarity and grammar that half the people in my class can't do.

There was plenty of giggling. Too much. But it made me feel happy and involuntarily smile like a love sick puppy. I really did love her, but in a brotherly way. I was so lucky that she was my imprint, even if she was six years old.

But way too soon, the bell rang again and the little people including Ali had to go back inside for more torture. The poor thing. I decided it was time I headed home, there wasn't anything here.

It was a cloudy day and halfway home it started to rain. I was simply strolling down the road, taking my own time. I wasn't going to run because I had nowhere to run to. No one was driving on this quiet road so I walked right in the middle confidently. The rain was slowly getting harder and harder and it started to get quite windy but I wasn't cold, even though I was just wearing a short sleeved tee shirt and jeans.

It was bucketing now and I was completely soaked. Little droplets streamed down and off the edge of my eye lashes, like Jonah cliff diving in a storm at the top peak, the psycho. My hair was plastered to my head and none of it bothered me the least because no one was around. If anyone was, they'd take me to a mental hospital pronto.

But it was kinda nice being on my own in the rain. The sound of the water hitting the road was like white noise when you tune the radio between two stations, well not quite, more like the numbing that blocks out any thoughts because its so loud. And it was. I could hardly hear my own thoughts.

My shoes were filled with water and squelched as I trudged along. I felt like a kid again, going and playing out in the rain, just because I can.

The road then curved round a beach. Not La Push because we were miles away. It was another beach I didn't know the name of. All the same, it was a beautiful beach, especially as there was a massive storm out at sea and that was breath taking.

It was like the waves had a mind of their own, dancing up in the air, begging to be released from the sea but then suddenly crashing back down and pulled under by the colossal current. Then blown up by the feisty gale, tossing the water about like a game. The game continued and every second, getting stronger and stronger. Almost as in perfect sync, the waves would roll in and the looming black thunder clouds would follow and in it's wake, the thunder and lightning would boom down.

I kept on trudging through the rain. Weather like this never bothered me but it was an amazing spectacle when it came.

I'd travelled from the school for about an hour now or what I thought felt like an hour but it was quite quick to me. I wasn't in a hurry or walking fast. Then I heard tires on the road.

It was coming quickly so I turned into a road on the other side but I heard it come down this road. I turned around and realised it was a small bus. I turned up ahead and noticed a bus stop and even further up ahead I could see some lights. I must be walking into town.

The bus whooshed past and inside, it looked nice and warm and dry. But something in me was telling me to get on that bus. since when did I ever need to be warm and dry when I'm a werewolf?

I tried to ignore it but it was like an itch that simply wouldn't go away. I watched the bus as it slowly got closer to the bus stop.

I decided to make a run for it.

Head down and legs spinning I ran straight for the bus stop, following the pull towards the bus. When I put it like that, maybe Ali was on the bus and the pull is the freaky imprinting thing. That made me want to get on the bus more.

I was catching up to it and the closer I got, the stronger the pull became. The urge was very strong. I was neck and neck with the bus. I looked inside and noticed all the people were busy commuting to notice me. Someone saw me, gave me a weird look and went back to reading his newspaper. I could hear some people laughing and giggling from somewhere.

Then I pushed forwards and thankfully got to the bus stop before the bus did. The doors opened and out flooded light onto the pavement. I stepped on, feeling giddy. I looked at the driver and he was looking at me. I was getting quite confused because he had not shut the door and was not driving the bus.

"Sorry, sir," I told him, though what for I do not know. he nodded and turned back round. I walked forwards with my head down but there was a rapping on glass behind me and the bus driver was giving me a hysterical look.

"Pay the fee, young lad. You're not on my bus for free."

I rummaged in my pockets, realising that I didn't have and money.

"Two dollars forty will be enough , son. Hurry up its getting cold in here."

I didn't understand why he just didn't shut the doors. By this time, an old lady in a pastel pink cardigan had come up to me and stood there with a frown. It was getting really awkward.

I felt around in the bottom of all my pockets and finally found some loose change and just about enough too. It was such a relief.

The lady sat back down and the bus drove off.

Everyone was staring at me. I supposed little people don't like change? It reminded me of when our neighbour Cynthia bought a huge Kurdish kangal and all the people our area were complaining even though he was a very good and polite dog and didn't make much trouble.

I got quite annoyed because everyone was staring but it was also embarrassing. I was standing at the front, dripping wet and just had a little ordeal with the bus driver. After a while, the people went back to doing their own business.

I was going to take a seat. But, of course, I had to squelch my way along the linoleum squeaking very loudly and lots of the people grumbled and moved or leaned out of the way, not wanting to get wet in their perfectly dry and clean attire.

I finally found a seat after a man got off when I was about to sit next to him, meaning I had an extra seat next to me. I had no idea where the bus was going but I didn't mind because it seemed to be heading into a town and that was all right for me.

Then I heard some one go 'psst!'. I turned around and there was Ali, sitting next to Lin Lin.

"Hey Ali!" I knew you were on this bus and I'm not just a lunatic idiot.

"Hiya Jesse. What are you doing on this bus?"

"I'm going into town." And that was true.

"Me too. Me and Lin Lin are going to the book store, do you want to come?" Of course. yes. Definitely. Absolutely. Please. My pleasure.

"Sure. I was going to go there."

"Come sit next to us." Yes! Thank you!

I went round and sat on Ali's other side. She didn't seem to mind that I was drenched and wetting the seats but Lin Lin seemed like she did and was trying her best to look like she didn't mind.

"Are you aloud on the bus on your own?"

"It's a small town. Things happen in major cities but in towns like these, everyone knows each other. You see that old lady there?" she pointed to the lady in the pink cardigan. "She was my old school teacher for English. Her name is Mrs. Miller and that man over there," she pointed to the man in the suit with too much gel in his hair and chokingly tight tie, "that's Mr. Clegg and he works at the bank where my uncle works."

She seemed to know enough people and after all, it is a small town.

We got off outside a small grocery store. Ali said that the book shop was round the corner. By that time, the rain had stopped and it was only a slight drizzle. Ali shivered and I felt like I should do something.

As she said, the book store was around the corner and thankfully, it wasn't much like Nuchatlaht Book Store. It seemed old but that was because there was another, nicer looking old lady in their. There was also a younger guy who was stacking the shelves.

We opened the door and a bell clanged above our heads. The two heads shot up to watch us enter then went back to their own business. The lady was first to greet us.

"Well hello, Ali. And Lin Lin too...and who is this?" she said, a bit too quietly but I was able to hear.

"Jesse, he's a friend of ours, Penny. Good afternoon, Noel!" Ali spoke.

"Hi Ali. Hi Lin Lin! How's school," Noel asked. I was getting a bit uneasy with him but I wouldn't want to pick a fight.

"It's going okay." Such a bad liar! I knew they weren't going so well. She wouldn't want everyone to know though, but she can't lie to save her life. But somehow, Noel didn't notice and neither did Penny or even Lin Lin. They couldn't see past her words or eyes. They believed her! I was the only one who knew things weren't as good as she said they were. Or maybe they were just trying to keep up a happy mood.

"Well, what are you looking for today?" He continued, dropping the topic.

"Umm...science-fiction? Maybe a spell book for the ocean? Oh and some books for maths revision for me and Lin Lin."

Lin Lin wasn't saying much. She was oddly quiet. Ali went off one way with Noel and I was begging to go with her but I wanted to talk to Lin Lin who had gone off in another direction.

I followed her. She had sat down in the corner on a corner sofa by the window with a pile of books already on her lap.

"Wow, that was quick. You must love books," I said, trying to start a conversation.

"Penny keeps this pile in the counter." Well that's not getting anywhere.

"So what are they?"

"Revision and legends." I could pick up from there.

"Legends as in, about shifters?" I whispered.

"Yeah, something like that. What do you know about them?"

That's getting into dangerous territory.

"Not much." Her stare was hurting. Her eyebrows were tightly knotted together and her eyes were burning a hole in me.

"Nothing interesting."

Cold stare.

"All right. What do you want to know that you can't ask Fred?"

Her eyes softened.

"Have you imprinted on Ali?"

...

What?

WHAT?!!

What did she say?! If I think I heard right then she must be mad! I must have misheard.

"What do you mean?" My voice trembled and she caught that. She smiled sweetly.

"Don't worry, I won't tell. Promise. Not even ali and I never break a promise."

No no no no NO!!!!!!! This can't be happening!!!! This wasn't supposed to happen! It's not supposed to happen like this! I'm not breaking any secrets out. I've never before and I wasn't going to start now.

"No of course I haven't." A slightly hysterical laugh slipped out and she ticked. A huge smile blossomed across her little face. It was too late.

"You are not telling anyone. Do you understand?"I warned, pointing my finger right in her face and she leant back with a cheeky grin.

"Don't worry. I don't tell other people's secrets."

I calmed down a bit and sat next to her. She picked up the first book on her lap and disappeared inside it. I narrowed my eyes but I could make sense of something that was bothering me. I read the book cover.

Physiology and Anatomy for beginners

???

How old was this girl?

She wasn't reading it.

I took the book of her hands and realised that behind it, she was quietly sulking.

"Trade? I shared my secret. You share yours." She didn't say anything. She didn't move. She didn't even blink.

"It's a fair deal. I'm not letting this go." After about a minute she sat up.

"I'm getting the way. I'm losing my friend. You're more important to her. "

That pulled me up short. Then I found out every imprint's weakness.

"You have Fred. Ali has me. You are best friends."

That pulled her up short. I took that chance.

"You're not getting in the way because you've earned her friendship and I won't be taking her away from you and you're not going to lose her and do you know why?"

"No."

"Because I told you my secret and you told me mine and we are friends and she is our friend and Fred is our friend. Who's getting in the way?"

She nodded and smiled again.

"Now stop hiding behind these books, you're not fooling anyone with this lot."