Author's Note: I'm SO sorry that's it has been so long. The only time I can say is that I've been so busy just trying to keep up with homework that I haven't had much time for eating right now. I have written a slightly longer chapter than usual for those of you have been wondering if I'd died or something (or those who've been plotting my demise for not updating). A few things that I thought I was going to explain latter on and never got around to it. Weezie's real name is Eloise and her brother's full name is Huckleberry Finn. I have based these characters off of real people. One of my English professors has twins and those are their names, however they are only three years old at present. The college and town I've been hinting is...you guessed where I actually go to school and live during the school year. I think that about covers it. If I leave things out or you wonder about something, please let me know. It probable you are not the only one. I would like things to be as clear as possible. For now...ENJOY!
The Tenth
I opened my eyes slowly and remained still in the bed. It was early morning, and I could hear Weezie's deep even breathing on the other side of the bed. I rolled out of the bed slowly and quietly. I couldn't hear anyone else up in the house. I quickly pulled a sweat shirt over my head and thick socks over my bare feet.
The sweat shirt smelled like Jacob. I didn't know when I'd worn it around him, but it didn't matter to me. I loved that smell. I held my breath, though, as I tip-toed down the stairs hoping that I didn't wake Huck up. I sighed with relief when I'd made it all the way down without waking anyone.
I walked lightly down the hallway to the kitchen. I paused for a minute to look at Huck sleeping on the couch underneath four quilts. His breathing was deep as well, and I hoped that he was still a hard sleeper. I hesitated at the doorway. He looked so peaceful and handsome asleep. Something about his eyes seemed sinister to me now when he was awake. It was something I'd never seen before. This Huck sleeping on my couch was more like the boy I'd grown up with. He rolled over in his sleep to his side facing away from me. I shook my head and continued on to the kitchen.
I stopped myself from drumming my fingers on the counter while the phone rang. I hoped that someone was up by now. I'd given up hope of anyone answering the phone when Billy's familiar husky voice answered.
"Hi, Billy, I was just calling to make sure Jacob was okay."
"Why are you whispering?" He asked.
"I don't want to wake anyone up," I answered.
"Oh, well, Jacob's fine. The boys have been patrolling since you two got back from the airport."
"Patrolling?" I nearly shouted.
I paused to see if I'd woken anyone. When I didn't hear movement in the house, I put the phone back to my ear.
"Evie? Are you there? Hello!" Billy was shouting.
"I'm here, I'm here," I said soothingly. "I thought the boys only patrolled when…oh no!"
"Yes," he said firmly.
"It's Christmas!"
"The blood suckers don't mind what time of year it is," Billy said logically.
"I suppose not. Is Jacob there? Can I talk to him?"
"He's asleep. Been doing double shifts, patrolling with the pack and watching your house at night," Billy said in a concerned voice.
"My house? But why? We're not in any danger are we?"
"No, he's just being overly cautious in my opinion. I can go wake him up if you want."
"No," I nearly shouted again. "No, no let him sleep. Just tell him that I called and a visit would be appreciated if he's not too tired."
"I'll make sure he knows, Evie."
"Thanks, Billy. I promise I'll come by for a visit once my friends have gone back home."
"We'll see you Christmas Eve, won't we?" There was almost a hint of panic in his voice.
"Yeah, that's the plan, I think," I said trying to sound reassuring.
"Good," he said triumphantly. "We'll see you then. Bye, Evie."
"Bye," I mumbled before putting the phone on the hook.
It'd been five days since I'd last seen Jacob, and I was starting to get depressed without him. I never realized how much I depended on him until he wasn't around. I was worried about him. He wasn't getting enough sleep, and he was trying to guard the reservation and my home apparently from vampires. I would defiantly have to talk to him about taking care of himself. He might be a werewolf, but there was no way he was Superman, too.
"Hey, what are you doing up?" Huck asked from behind me.
"I was just thinking of making some breakfast. Want some?"
He readily agreed. It wasn't long before Grandma and Weezie came down stairs. Not long after breakfast a snow storm began and continued for most of the day. Keeping everyone inside for the day.
The next day I still had not heard from Jacob. I contented myself knowing that he was safe just busy and unable to call or come by. Huck suggested that we all go enjoy the newly fallen snow outside. I wasn't greatly enthusiastic about the venture, but as both Huck and Weezie seemed keen I couldn't say no.
We spent all morning outside and begrudgingly we all went inside for some soup for lunch. Then it was back outside again. Even I was excited and glad in the afternoon to return to the cold winter wonderland outside. I don't know who threw the first snowball, but a massive snowball fight among us took of the majority of the afternoon.
As I ran to the cover of the forest, I slipped and fell ending up on my back. Huck not watching were he was going tripped over me and fell beside me. I tried to kick off his heavy legs, but before I knew it he hap pinned me to the ground with his both. A hand on the ground on each side of my head supported most of his weight.
"Get off, Huck," I said squirming underneath him.
"I don't want to," he said childishly.
"Too bad! Get off!" I shouted.
"Maybe I can change your mind," he said leaning in closer to me.
I realized what he planned and turned my head just in time to avoid his kiss.
"Aww, come on, Evie! Is that a way to treat on old friend?"
"Friends don't kiss," I pointed out trying to push him off unsuccessfully.
"Who says we have to be friends?" He said in a seductive voice.
"I do! Now, get off!"
I gave him another shove, but he was as unshakable as before. He leaned in for another kiss. When I turned my head he forced my head back with his hand. I squirmed uncontrollable as he near me and when our lips touched I closed my eyes tightly and tried to free my head from his grasp.
Suddenly my body was cooler and the weight that had been pressing on me was gone as well as Huck's lips contact with mine. I opened my eyes and Jacob stood over me. He had lifted Huck off of my by the collar of his jacket.
I jumped up as Jacob started shouting at Huck. I couldn't get between them quickly enough as Huck answered Jacob's aggression.
"Who do you think you are?" Huck shouted.
"She told you to get off of her," Jacob shouted back.
"That's none of your business!"
"She's my friend, and it's my business when someone is forcing them on her!"
Jacob was visibly shaking in a rage. I jumped in before Huck said anything else to make him phase.
"Stop!" I shouted to Huck. "Stop," I said quietly to Jacob touching his arm and stepping in front of him to look him in the eyes. "Control it," I said in a whisper.
I saw the anger in Jacob's eyes well up. He didn't want to control it. He wanted to rip Huck apart. He couldn't think clearly like this.
I reached up and place both my hands on each side of his face and forced him to duck down to my level.
"If you phase, you will hurt me now. I will not move so you can become a murder," I said in a stern voice.
I tried to keep my words low enough so that only he could hear them, but I could see Weezie straining her hears to hear what I said. I imagine Huck would be doing the same.
I saw in Jacob's dark brown eyes as he realized what I was saying. His anger quickly subsided. He quit shaking and I knew that he had his emotions under control even though he clenched his fists so tightly his hands began turning white.
"Okay?" I said letting him go and stepping back.
"Yeah, yeah," he said breathlessly as if he'd just run a marathon. "Don't do it again," he said to Huck before turning around and stomping off.
I looked at Huck with wide as, and he face looked white. I was sure he had realized by now that Jacob would beat him to a pulp if given the chance. I didn't say anything, but followed after Jacob running to catch up.
"Jacob, wait up," I called when I reached the corner of the house.
He didn't stop, but I did notice that he slowed his stride so that I reached him before he got to his car.
"Evie, I—"
"Shut up!" I shouted interrupting him. "Don't you ever do that again!"
I pointed my finger up in his face and let the full force of my wrath be known.
"What!"
"You heard me! Do even realize what could have happened today if I hadn't been able to calm you down?" I paused. "You would have killed him!"
"Evie, what the big deal? He was kissing you!" He shouted back me.
"So what?" I spread out my arm wide and then pointed at myself, "I was handling it! You," I pointed again at him, "on the other hand, were not!"
"So what? Next time you want me to just let him do it?" He asked defensively.
"YES! I'm not as important as you are and keeping the pack a secret!"
"That's not true!"
"Yes, it is, Jacob! Ask Sam! What do you think he'd say if he'd seen that?"
Jacob didn't answered he looked down at his feet ashamed. I finally notice he was wearing a long sleeved shirt and jean as well as some sneakers. A jacket as conspicuously missing from his attire.
"It's bad enough you're running around in below zero weather without a jacket on! People will start to notice something if you aren't more careful!"
Tears started to well up in my eyes and tightness in my throat wouldn't let me say anything else. I threw my arms around Jacob and clung to him tightly.
"I can't lose…Jacob…I can't lose you, too! Not you!" I managed to croak out.
I felt warm arms wrap around me after a few minutes of hesitancy. Jacob rested his cheek on the top of my head but didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry," I said once I had finished crying.
I felt rather stupid and foolish at the display I'd given.
"No, I'm sorry, Evie. I shouldn't have lost control like that. Although, he does deserve to be taught a lesson," he said in a harsh voice.
"Let someone else teach it to him then, Jacob. You don't have to fix everyone," I said half-jokingly.
"What do you mean?"
I pulled away enough to look up into his face.
"You fixed me. You fixed Bella," I said by way of an explanation.
He was going to say something when a foreign voice interrupted him.
"She's right, you know."
Jacob froze and held my firm to him, so I couldn't turn to see who it was. It was someone I'd never met before, because the voice wasn't familiar.
"What are you doing here?" Jacob asked in a dark voice.
His face was expressionless and stern. His face frightened me more than the unseen stranger. Finally, Jacob seemed to realize I was still present. He let me go, but pushed me like a child to his side and behind him. It was like he was trying to shield me with his body.
"Charlie called," the beautiful girl said simply.
There were two of them, a girl and a boy. The girl was much shorter than me, and the boy was near to my height as far as I could tell. He stood back further from Jacob and me. He was very handsome with alabaster skin and bronze hair that was stylishly messy, but I doubted it was styled to look that way. The girl was petite with long chocolate brown hair. She had the same skin as the boy. They looked as if they could be twins except as I looked closer they really didn't favor each other. Somehow they favored each other much in the same way that Jacob and the rest of the pack looked like brothers. I felt my skin crawl as she took a tentative step towards.
"Don't, Bella," Jacob warned.
Bella? Charlie? It couldn't be! No! It was her. The girl that had broken Jacob's heart two years ago! What was she doing here? Then I remembered what she was, vampire. I felt goose bumps form on my skin, but I was determined not to be a girl and let my fear over come me.
"Why are you here?" He asked again when she remained still.
"I heard about your," she looked at me with her ochre eyes, "impression. I wanted to see her."
"Leave her alone," he said a low voice stepping in front of me again.
"We mean no harm to you or the girl," the male said stepping beside Bella.
He must be Edward. He voice was deep and very lyrical. Hadn't Jacob said something about music and Edward? I couldn't remember, but it seemed to fit.
"Then leave and don't come back like you promised," Jacob said firmly.
I could see he was struggling for control although it hadn't gotten so bad that he was shaking yet. I reached out and touched his arm which I meant to be reassuring. He looked down at my hand but never took his eyes away from Bella and Edward.
"I'm happy for you, Jake. I really am," she said reaching out to touch him as I had.
Jacob's hiss stopped her. She stood frozen for a moment with her hand held in mid air before she let it drop and she stepped back to Edward.
"Just go, Bella," he said so low it was almost a whisper.
She stood for several minutes looking at Jacob and then me. She looked as though she would cry. Could vampires cry? Edward took her hand in a very human gesture of comfort. She broke her stare at me and looked to him. It seemed that they communicated in an unspoken language something to each other.
"Goodbye, Jake," she said sadly and they were gone.
There were several trees that blocked my view of the house from here, and I hoped that it was the same from the house. I didn't know how I would ever explain what had just happened if Grandma, Weezie, or Huck asked.
With their departure, Jacob's shoulders seemed to sag. I let out the breath I'd been holding in anticipation and everything seemed to speed up back to normal. In Bella's and Edward's presence, everything seemed to have slowed down.
"Are you okay?" Jacob asked rounding on me suddenly.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Are you?" I asked concerned with the lines of pain on his face.
"Sure, sure why wouldn't I be?"
"Because she still loves you," I blurted out. "And you still love her."
"Evie, that's not—"
I held up my hand to stop him.
"If you're okay then," I waited for him to nod. "Good, I'll head back to the house. Everyone will wonder where I've gone."
I turned and walked back to the house. My legs felt shaky, but I was proud to find I could make it all the way back on my own. As I closed the door, I felt all my energy drain out of me. I slumped against it as I fought back tears. It was in that moment I realized I'd fallen in love with Jacob Black. Jacob loved another girl who he couldn't have. This girl was a vampire, and she belonged to another.
I crawled into bed claiming I had a headache when my grandmother asked. I really did have a headache, and I knew tears wouldn't help it any. I couldn't help it, however, and I let them fall freely. I cursed Bella Swan over and over again for showing up unannounced today to disrupt everything. I ended up laughing at myself though for thinking that I deserved any happiness anymore. I was marked for sadness. Those were my last thoughts as I drifted into unconsciousness.