"Happy Birthday" Sue said as she greeted Jacob, who wheeled his father in through the door.
He was dressed formally. Billy had surprised him with a suit for his birthday. He had remembered Jacob complaining about not having anything "nice" to wear on the day of the barbeque.
"Thanks" He replied tugging at his tie awkwardly.
Jacob's small birthday dinner had turned out to be a formal one. The whole pack was there and even their parents. Everyone had come dressed nice for the occasion. Apparently, unknown to Jacob, his birthday was a big deal. It was his first birthday as a member of the pack and so, it was important. Jacob had been surprised when his father informed him of it when he got back from having lunch with Edward. Talking about Edward, that was all he was actually looking forward to today. He had an unofficial first date with him. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't ditch the dinner, especially when it turned into something big. He sighed as he took a seat, reserved for him, at the head of the table. There were other tables with members of the council and parents of the pack members, but he sat at the table with his pack. Sam was at his right and his dad to his left.
"Are you okay, son?" Billy asked, noticing his son's fidgety behavior.
"How long is this going to take?" Jacob asked, not trying to sound rude, but it happened regardless.
"Edward can wait" Sam said sternly, knowing it was about him.
"He shouldn't have to, he's my imprint, it's my birthday. I think he has a right to be here" Jacob said defensively.
"Geez..." Paul began to say, hearing their conversation.
"You're right. Another exception" Sam sighed
"He doesn't even eat..." Paul mumbled
"More food for us then" Seth commented, which gained him a glare from Paul.
"Is it okay, dad?" Jacob asked
He wasn't sure why he was asking him, but it felt important.
"Yeah. You guys are... friends" He answered, but questioning at the same time.
Jacob blushed and nodded before excusing himself as he walked out to call Edward.
"Friends, huh?" Leah questioned him.
She had followed him and reached him just as he walked out the front door.
"You know we aren't... You know" Jacob said
"Okay. Um, before he gets here... I need to know. Did you tell him about our kiss?" She asked
"Shit! I hella forgot about that... fuck. He's going to read your mind... my mind" Jacob said in a panic.
"Why didn't you tell him?" Leah asked, crossing her arms over her chest, scolding him.
"I honestly forgot..." Jacob mumbled
"Great. Well, If I can block you guys out when we're phased, I'm pretty sure I can deal with one mind reader" Leah offered
"No. Then it feels like we're hiding something. Like if it meant something" Jacob said, shaking his head.
"Gotta love ya for your straight-forwardness, huh" Leah said, cocking her head as she smirked.
Jacob didn't know what to say to that. He wasn't sure what Leah had meant, but he knew he didn't want to pry.
"I'll tell him after dinner. We still have plans... plus, I'm pretty sure he won't care" He said
"Are you sure about that?" She asked skeptically.
"Leah..." Jacob said warningly, but she was already walking away.
Jacob sighed and dialed Edward's number by memory. It was one of the few numbers he knew .
"Happy Birthday" Edward said, answering at the first ring.
"Uh, thanks" Jacob said blushing, but feeling foolish for doing so.
"Enjoying your dinner?" He asked
"About that. You don't have to if you don't want to. Since you're my imprint then... Don't feel like you have to. You can say no" Jacob said rushed.
"What is it, Jake?" Edward asked amused.
Jacob could practically see him smirking on the other line.
"There's another exception. You can come to my dinner at Sue's" Jacob said
"Jake..."
"You don't have to" Jacob said, cutting him off.
"I'll be right there. I'll run over, if that's okay. I don't want to make you guys wait" Edward said
"Okay" Jacob said cheerfully, feeling gleeful.
"See you soon"
"Yeah"
Jacob put his phone away and he couldn't stop himself from smiling like a goof. He took a seat back at the head of the table.
"He'll be here" Jacob simply said, "Where's my dad?" He asked, seeing that his dad was gone.
"He joined Sue's table. Traditionally, your mate takes the seat to your left" Sam explained
"He's not..."
"He's your imprint. He's your mate whether you like it or not" Sam said
Jacob nodded and sighed, looking at the empty chair that was placed for Edward. He was suddenly feeling nervous having to introduce Edward as his mate. He wasn't sure if Edward would get bothered by the situation. At times like these, he wished he had paid more attention at tribal gatherings. He contemplated calling Edward, but it was too late. He quickly spotted him as Sue directed him towards their table. His nervousness and anxiety quickly dwindled, feeling calm as Edward took the empty seat.
"Hello. Thank you for having me" Edward said
"Thank you for coming. It means a lot to Jacob" Sam said
Individual conversations began after that, but Jacob remained silent. He could already feel the stares from everyone. He knew the older people were probably uncomfortable and by Edward's stiff posture, he knew Edward could tell. He could probably hear their negative thoughts and once again, Jacob was brought back to a bundle of nerves.
"I swear I didn't know. I didn't... I wouldn't blame you if you left" Jacob whispered
"It's fine. It's the least I could do" Edward answered
"What do you mean?" He asked
"Later" Edward simply said and Jacob made a note to ask him.
Jacob simply nodded just as his father took the center stage, bringing everyone into silence. He straightened up in his seat. He didn't know what to expect.
"Hello brothers and sisters. As we know, Jacob has joined our brave warriors in a war against lee... those who dare want to harm us. His sacrifice and power are looked upon with pride by us, as well for the rest of his pack brothers. May our gathering bestow upon you the fruits of brotherhood. We come together for my son's first birthday; the initiation into his pack family. The first of many. As a father, I speak now. My son, you make me proud. Today, you become a man. To Jacob..." He said as he raised a glass of water and the rest followed suit, even Edward, "Let the festivities begin" He finished and everyone drank, except Edward.
"Wow. That was some speech" Jacob commented as soon as everyone got back to conversing.
"He didn't say the whole thing. He kept it short" Sam said
"Why?" Jacob asked
"We're not in the olden times anymore. A lot of it is mostly 'hurrah's'. It was written in a different time" He answered
Jacob nodded and let Sam get into conversation with Paul and Emily. He began to drum his finger nervously as he rested his head on the other. He hummed quietly, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, a cold hand rested against his moving one. Jacob straightened up, startled by the contact and blushed as Edward gave him a calming expression. He sighed and simply nodded.
"What are you nervous about?" Edward asked
"I don't know... I guess all the attention. It's all unexpected" Jacob answered and retreated his hand from under Edward's.
"Most are in their own little worlds. You have nothing to worry about. I can literally feel the nervousness rolling off of you. Your body is giving you away" Edward said, smirking.
"Honestly, I can't wait to get out of here... with you" Jacob admitted
Edward didn't say anything besides nod at his comment. Jacob bit on his bottom lip bothered by Edward's reaction. He wondered if maybe he was getting too comfortable with him. A part of him felt like he was home being with Edward. He knew that something was changing between them, but he couldn't pin-point it. He concentrated, but gained a questioning look from Edward. He looked away embarrassed. He was caught staring at him.
"Dinner is served" Sue said and with the help from others, set plates in front of them.
"Thank you" Everyone said
Jacob felt awkward digging into his plate of food as Edward sat there not eating. It felt rude, but he had to remind himself that Edward didn't eat.
"How has your day been?" Edward asked
"Fine. Dad made me wake up early to do our annual birthday morning fishing. It's more bonding than anything. Then, the pack took me to the beach for a barbeque lunch. Small things in between and then now my birthday dinner" Jacob answered through mouthfuls of food.
Jacob didn't want to admit that he had spent all day anticipating his unofficial date with Edward.
"Have you even gotten presents?" Seth asked, joining their conversation.
"My dad gave me this suit. Now, I can't complain that I have nothing nice to wear" Jacob said as he once again tugged at his tie awkwardly.
He felt stiff in the suit as if it was constricting him. Edward stared at him and Jacob gave him a small, shy, smile.
"Did you get him a present?" Seth asked, turning to Edward with curiosity.
"Seth..." Jacob whined
"Yes" Edward answered
"You did!?" Seth and Jacob said at the same time, causing both boys to laugh.
"Jinx, you owe me a soda" Seth teased
The rest of the dinner went on uneventfully. By the time everyone was done eating, Jacob's nerves were gone. That had to do with the fact that his pack had been respectful to Edward, even Paul. Sure Paul threw in his sly comments here and there, but generally, he made decent conversation with Edward. Jacob found himself blushing most of the time when Edward was talking with one of his pack members, because to him it felt like every story they told was said with the intentions of embarrassing him.
"Man, it was hilarious. I think we were about twelve?... who knows, but Jacob was too scared to jump off the cliff. I threatened to push him off and on his attempt to get away from me, by the way... I wasn't going to do it, I was simply teasing him. Anyways, one minute I was chasing after him and then... the next he was falling off the cliff! I still remember his face!" Quil said, taking a break to make the face the Jacob had done on that day, which gained laughs from the others, even Edward, "It wasn't even the biggest cliff. It's that small one that now a days you see little kids jumping off of" Quil finished saying as he laughed.
"Yes, laugh at my pain" Jacob groaned, not amused one bit.
"Don't worry. I feel your pain" Seth offered
"At least you fell off of the big one. Paul even jumped after you, feeling guilty and panicked" Quil said
"What? When did this happen?" Jacob asked surprised.
"A couple of weeks ago. The guys were jumping off from the cliff and were trying to convince me to do it too, but I was too scared. Paul threatened to toss me over and made a move to tackle me, which made me back away... Right off the cliff's edge" Seth explained
"I wasn't even going to do it" Paul said chuckling.
"See what you miss when you're being all lame and what not" Embry teased
"You and Leah, man. You guys are so boring... snooze-fest" Paul complained
"We don't need you guys to have fun" Leah retorted, glaring at him.
"What do you guys do? You guys are like always together or going off somewhere... being all secretive" Paul questioned
In that moment, Jacob became very observant. He noticed Edward stare at Leah, intently, as she returned his strong stare. Unlike Edward though, her facial features were soft while Edward's seem to contort into something... like confusion or anger even. Then that expression was directed towards Jacob. He flinched back at his expression. Jacob knew that Edward had probably read Leah's mind then.
'I can explain' Jacob found himself thinking to Edward, but he simply shook his head.
Then suddenly, everyone began to sing happy birthday as Sue walked in carrying a cake. Edward's expression changed and chanted along with everyone, but his was the only voice Jacob could hear. Among the many, Jacob gravitated to his as his heart fluttered. Then he began to feel a strong feeling of possessiveness. He wasn't sure why he felt that, but he wanted to pull Edward then and kiss him. His wolf felt like it needed to reassure its mate that he had nothing to fear, but as a man, Jacob just realized that he loved him.
His heart began to warm as he realized this new revelation. He loved the boy in front of him. He had thought it and even said it, but now he felt it. As he sang his name, Edward became the only person in the room. It almost felt surreal to him as he stared at him. His tears collected and fell as everyone clapped. Everything was feeling too overwhelming. He felt complete for the first time. At that moment as Jacob's and Edward's eyes made contact, he knew that Edward had finally accepted the imprint.
"Make a wish!" Seth said excitedly.
Jacob nodded and closed his eyes. He blocked Edward out as he concentrated. He knew it was childish, but he made a wish. Opening his eyes he looked at Edward and wished for Edward to finally realize his own feelings.
"Wasn't memorial day yesterday?" Jacob asked as he finally took off the annoying tie that plagued him.
"They have this weekend long fair. Rosalie and Emmett have gone before, they recommended it" Edward said as they got into Jacob's car, but this time Edward drove.
"Oh, that's cool. I wouldn't have figured you as a fair kind of guy" Jacob commented
"I want you to enjoy yourself"
"Well, I do like fairs. I haven't been to one since I was a kid, though" Jacob said
"Well, I haven't been to one for a while either" Edward said
"Why do I get this feeling that your while means a long time" Jacob said
Edward simply smirked.
"Emmett recommended it because of the games that they have and Rosalie liked the firework display they have at the end" Edward explained
Jacob nodded as he slipped off his coat. He loosened the collar of the shirt by unbuttoning the first buttons. He rolled up his sleeves right below his elbows. He still felt uncomfortable in the slacks, but he could deal with them. He sighed, finally feeling less constricted.
"Better?" Edward teased
"Much. I don't know how people can dress that way. Besides, I think it makes me look weird" Jacob complained
"I think otherwise. You looked very mature"
"Is that what you like?" Jacob asked as he's ears perked up.
He would do anything for Edward, even if that meant he had to wear suits every day.
"I am not one into the formal wear, but I did come from an era where it was frequently worn" Edward answered
"You're always dressed nice" Jacob complimented
"All Alice's doing" Edward said as he shook his head.
They fell into silence, but it wasn't awkward. Jacob's skin began to tingle once again as he looked at Edward from the corner of his eyes. After his revelation, all he had wanted to do was devour Edward's lips. Then he remembered what had happened before.
"Hey... um... I know you said not to explain, but I want to. You might not... but you're very important to me now. What happened with Leah meant nothing. I know to you it's whatever, but to me it matters. It all happened so fast. It was merely experimental..." Jacob was saying in an attempt to explain himself without saying too much.
"Just don't to it again" Edward said sternly.
"Okay..." Jacob said surprised by Edward's words.
"I didn't mean... You shouldn't risk a friendship with that. It can make things complicated. I don't ca... Just don't do it again, okay?" Edward said
"I won't" Jacob said confused.
He wasn't sure what Edward had meant, but he shrugged it off. Since they were on a serious note, Jacob decided it was the perfect time to ask about something else that had been bothering him throughout dinner.
"So, what did you mean when you said, 'It's the least I can do' back at my dinner?" Jacob asked
"You imprinted on me. From now on, you won't find a mate because you are tied to me. Filling in such occasions... it's okay. That's what I meant by, 'the least I could do'." Edward explained
"So... pity" He mumbled
"It's complicated... I'm sorry" Edward simply said
Jacob dropped the issue then. He didn't know what to think. Suddenly, he wasn't feeling too good anymore. Despite the gloomy cloud that was threatening to hover over him, he forced himself to not ruin the night. He knew Edward and him had a long way to go. He couldn't simply break down at simple things. He needed to learn how not to be a child. Realizing his thoughts, he got a strong sense of maturity.
"So, what do you want to do?" Edward asked as they walked the fair grounds.
"I don't know. We can try out some of the games?" Jacob suggested
Edward nodded and followed him to a game stand. It was a water game. Edward and Jacob sat on the stools available. Each took a hold of their water gun with the goal of being the first one to make the frog reach it's petal. Jacob gave him a 'game on' face which made Edward chuckle. Other people were participating in this race, too. The guy in charge of the booth made sure everyone was ready before blowing his whistle. The giggles began and water sprayed everywhere. Some people missed their mark, making water splash around. The bell rang announcing that Edward had won.
"Cheater" Jacob mumbled as the guy handed Edward a small beanie baby.
Jacob laughed at the purple colored dog with pink legs. The stuffed animals were always colored weird.
"I'm not really a fan of these things" Edward said as they walked away from the booth.
"Me neither. I just like winning" Jacob admitted
"I see..."
"Give it to your sister or something" Jacob suggested
Edward stuffed the toy into his jacket. Feeling more into it, Jacob excitedly headed to another game booth. This time, Edward sat out as he saw Jacob toss ring after ring in an attempt to hook it. When he threw his last ring, he groaned as the man tried to convince him to go another round, but Jacob declined.
"You should have tried again" Edward said
"That's how they get you. I'm not about to spend all my money... Uh, your money, on one game" Jacob said embarrassed.
"No complaining" Edward said sternly.
"C'mon. I've been dying to play the strong man one" Jacob beamed as he dragged Edward to another game.
Edward watched as Jacob stood in line, smirking at him. There were four big guys already ahead of him, waiting to get a turn at making the bell ring. Jacob knew it was for their girlfriends or dates as he spotted the group of girls, waiting to see their men impress them. Instead of jealousy, Jacob felt amused when he spotted most of their eyes straying towards Edward. He had noticed that throughout the night. He noticed the longing gazes that most girls were giving Edward and it was slightly unnerving, but Jacob failed to notice the stares that he was given. He was watching Edward too much.
"Try again next time" The guy in charge said as the guy ahead of Jacob failed to make the bell ring, "Your turn" He said, turning to Jacob.
"I got this" Jacob said as he rubbed his hands together and cracked his fingers.
"We'll see" The guy muttered as he handed Jacob the hammer-like weapon.
Jacob dramatically heaved as he pulled it up over his shoulder. He kept one hand close to the head while the other more to the bottom. In one swift motion he slammed it down and the bell rang announcing his win. The small crowd that was around clapped for him.
"Take your pick" The guy said as he pointed toward the wall that had a collection of large stuffed animals.
Jacob looked at them over and simply looked for the one that would be easiest to carry. He spotted a monkey one that had velcro on its hands. He pointed towards that one and the guy pulled it down. Jacob placed the monkey on his back and wrapped his arms around his neck, so it looked like it was hanging on his back.
"You were really impressive back there" A girl said as she placed her hand on Jacob's arm.
"Thanks..." Jacob said as he smiled at her.
"You're really cute" She purred, making him blush.
Jacob stood there dumb-founded as she continued flirting with him. He hadn't been flirted on before and it felt very odd to him. Suddenly, he was very aware of being stared at. He looked away from her to scout the crowd and found Edward staring at him. He still stood in the same place where Jacob had left him when he had gotten up to take a turn.
"Is that your friend?" The girl asked
"Uh, yeah. I shouldn't keep him waiting..." Jacob said, trying to excuse himself.
"I have a friend with me. We came by ourselves, too. Would you guys want to get together..." She said winking as she placed her hand on his chest, seductively.
"Sorry, we were just leaving" Edward said as he pulled Jacob towards him by his wrist.
"Whoa..." The girl said surprised by Edward's appearance.
"Uh, sorry..." Jacob barely said to her as Edward dragged him off.
Jacob stumbled after Edward as he rushed them through the crowd. He didn't know how to react. He wasn't sure what was going on. He had a feeling that Edward was mad, but he didn't know what to do. Edward easily evaded people as he maneuvered around them. Finally, Jacob had enough as he slipped his wrist from Edward's hold.
"Hold on. What's going on?" Jacob asked
"Rescuing you. That girl had you wrapped around her finger" Edward huffed, but didn't turn around to face him.
"What? No, she didn't. I don't... if I didn't know better, I would say that you were jealous or something" Jacob said in disbelief.
"I am not jealous!" Edward growled, turning to face him.
Jacob took a step back at the sight of Edward's coal black eyes.
"Why would I be jealous?... I don't care... I shouldn't care. I don't know what happened. I'm not... I'm not..." Edward said as he stumbled with his words.
"Edward..." Jacob said as he reached out to him in an attempt to comfort him, but Edward retreated, "Let's go home" Jacob finished saying as he sighed.
Edward shook his head, but Jacob simply nodded. He tried to give him a reassuring smile, but he couldn't hide the disappointment that he felt.
"Fuck... Fuck" Edward said in an outburst, surprising Jacob.
Jacob's lips parted slightly as Edward pulled him against him. He lowered his head slightly and pressed his lips against his. Jacob's hands went to Edward's waist as Edward kissed him roughly. Jacob didn't care that people could be watching them as he clenched his hands around Edward's jacket, pulling him closer. Edward groaned at the heat that Jacob's lips caused him. It was their first kiss all over again, but a million times more intense. There was so much hunger and need in their kiss.
"I'm sorry..." Edward apologized as he rested his head at the crook of Jacob's neck and shoulder, "I don't know what came over me... It just felt like I had no control... Like I needed to..."
"It's okay..." Jacob said, trying to reassure him, but even he didn't know what was going on.
"No, it's not. I don't understand this..." Edward began to say as he pulled away from Jacob, but then he noticed the people around them, "Not here. Let's go" Edward said
Jacob agreed and followed after Edward. He jammed his hands into his pockets and kept a distance from him. Once they reached his car, Edward sat quietly at the driver's side while Jacob did the same except he played with his hands. Edward gripped the steering wheel even though the car was not on. Jacob watched him clench and unclench his hands around the wheel, before finally dropping his hands on his lap.
"It started with Leah..." Edward began saying quietly.
"What did Leah do?" Jacob growled
"She didn't do anything. I didn't like knowing... seeing you kiss Leah. The memory was fresh, it almost felt like I was seeing it happen in front of me. I felt so... disappointed for some reason. It stung me in a way that I haven't felt since... Bella. Then that girl was all over you. It was so frustrating to see you there blushing while she had her hands all over you! Like if you were hers!... It just bothered me and then... I just snapped. Before I knew it, I was dragging you away and... kissing you. I don't know why I became so possessive. I have no right to... You're not mine" Edward said, looking away as if ashamed.
"Edward, do you like me?" Jacob asked
"I... think so" Edward admitted
"Are you sure?... Fuck, I want to be happy right now, but... I don't even know if they're your real feelings" Jacob said
"It's not like you liked me before the imprint. That shouldn't matter... I do now and I'm not running away. I just don't want to jump into anything" Edward said
"What does this mean? Are we going out now?" Jacob asked blushing.
"I need time to think about this. Obviously, I have no problem kissing you, but being in a relationship would entitle wanting everything that came with that relationship, but I don't know if I could be with you that way fully" Edward said
"Trust me, you're not the only one" Jacob said
"That's why I don't want to jump into anything right now" Edward said
"Okay... Are we..."
"I don't know. I like how we are now, but... fuck, I really want to kiss you right now. Actually, lately, I've been feeling that way... a lot" Edward said, smirking.
Jacob smiled at him. He pulled his face towards him and unlike the previous times, both leaned in to one another. If Jacob felt overwhelmed before, now he could explode. The kiss was too sweet as they matched each other's speed. Jacob loved the firmness of Edward's lips while Edward enjoyed the softness of Jacob's. Now, that they freely kissed each other willingly, they seemed to relax into each other. They pulled away and Jacob sighed at the sensation that Edward's lips left on his.
"This feels weird" Jacob admitted as he seated himself back in his seat.
"I know..." Edward simply said as he turned on the car.
It almost seemed like everything that had happened was forgotten, but Edward held Jacob's hand as he drove off. Jacob melted at the affection, but he was still uneasy about the whole situation. He wasn't sure where they were going with their relationship. It seemed to do a whole three sixty and neither boys seemed to be ready for it. Jacob contemplated many things in his head. He wondered what the rest would think about his and Edward's new relationship... Most importantly, he thought about Bella. His body literally recoiled at the mention of her name. Bella had seemed like a forgotten issue until now.
"Mind if I make a detour?" Edward asked
"Sure. Where we going?" Jacob asked
"My house. My family would like to have you over for your birthday" Edward explained
"My birthday is going to be over in about two hours" Jacob said
"Well, we better get there soon. Alice would hate me if I brought you over too late" Edward said and pressed on the gas.
"Be careful. Don't hurt my baby. She isn't what she used to be" Jacob whined as he patted the dashboard.
"Would you rather face the wrath of Alice?" Edward teased
"Mush, car, mush!" Jacob commanded
Jacob smiled at Edward, who laughed at his antics. Jacob loved that Edward was becoming more comfortable with him. He knew that Edward was slowly coming out of his shell and Jacob loved that it was because of him.
A/N: Next chapter will pick up right after this scene. Some Jacob and Cullen family bonding :P
So, just to keep you guys up with the story line, the eclipse plot line is finally here! I'm thinking next chapter or so. Let the drama ensue! hehe (I know, I'm so evil. Right when Edward finally accepted Jacob)
I have to admit that I actually had this chapter done after a week of posting the last chapter. I know I'm a horrible person! But I used this extra time to get more ahead in the story. That means that the next chapter is almost done, so you won't have to wait that long for it. Yay! :)
Don't forget to let me know what you guys think! I got some very interesting feedback and some made me laugh. I like you guys' enthusiasm :) You're awesome.