A.N: Hello beautiful people!

This chapter goes to prettynicole46 for in One day reviewing every freakin' chapter I've ever written and for sending me a wonderful PM:)

Lock Ness

"Bye" I blurted out to both of them before I hurried out the door. I hated to be late. It made me feel even more slow.

I ran through the forest as fast as I could. It took a while before I noticed that I was not alone.

I heard a movement behind me. My head snapped up but I couldn't see anyone. Yet, I was sure there was someone there. I couldn't hear any other sound than my own running steps and my own fluttering heartbeat.

I had two choices, either keep running or stop. Since I wasn't the fastest runner, I took a chance and stopped short.

My sudden move had been totally unexpected to whoever it was. I felt something rush past me a few meters away. When I didn't make a sound myself, I could clearly hear the thudding sound of paws and the heavy heartbeat.

Now the wind was in my advantage, and brought me the smell of the person in front of me. I could recognize that smell anywhere. I smirked. So he wanted to play a game. I could do that too.

I kept standing silent as a shadow. The thudding sound of paws in front of me stopped short as well, and I could practically hear his confusion. He probably thought I didn't know who it was. He must think I was afraid. Hah.

I almost snorted out loud, but managed to not make a sound. I couldn't see him, but I knew roughly where he was standing. I heard a little noise, probably when he turned around to try catch a glimpse of me through the trees.

Then I leaped.

I saw a glimpse of reddish fur in front of me. I heard him let out a little bark of surprise and amusement as he realized what I was doing. He would have been so much faster than me had I not caught him by surprise. But I did, and so I caught him easily. Just when he had gotten over the surprise and started running, I landed on his back, my arms around his neck.

Hi Jake, I thought casually. He barked another laugh as he realized I had tricked him.

You know, you shouldn't underestimate me just because you're faster, I teased.

He turned his head halfway to grin at me, and then he lunged himself forward in the direction of La Push.

"There they are!"

Embry stretched his neck to get a better look at us as we walked up to the beach towards the bonfire. Jacob had phased back to human form now.

Everyone was there. Both of the packs, and all of the girlfriends and imprintees. A few of the elders were there as well, even Billy. I waved at him, glad to see him up and going, and he smiled back from his place on the other side of the fire.

"Are you guys late, or what?" Paul teased, sending us a mischievous grin, his voice filled with innuendos. He just couldn't help it, could he?

"My fault." I raised my hand "I'm born slow"

"Hey, Nessie!"

Seth called my name waving for me to join him. I let go of Jacobs hand and slumped down by his side. He gave me a hug as I sat down. It had been forever since the last time I saw him. Seth was the wolf I knew best and the wolf who knew me best as well, I guess, except Jacob of course.

"How are you, I haven't seen you in ages!" He was grinning from ear to ear.

"I know, there's been a lot going on" I said. " Not that I've seen you much around either. Are Jake making you run double patrols or what?"

Seth laughed and shoved a soda into my hand. I looked over at Jacob and found he was looking at me. I patted the space beside me for him to join us, and he did.

We stayed for a couple of hours. Everyone ate, drank and seemed to enjoy themselves. I loved bonfires. The mood was open and friendly, and some of the guys could be pretty hilarious from time to time.

Billy enjoyed himself as well, and it made me happy. It was hard to believe something was wrong with him, that he'd been staying at a hospital only days before.

As it started to get darker, Jacob left to drive Billy home. I was still sitting beside Seth, looking after Jacob and his father. Jacob helped Billy into the car and got into the drivers seat. I waited until they were out of earshot.

"How's he doing, really? Jacob, I mean"

Seth followed my gaze to where their car had just disappeared.

"Do you mean because of Billy and all?"

I just nodded. Jacob seemed fine, really. But then he always seemed fine, even when he was all but. He always looked at the bright side of things and always kept his good spirits up. Just like his dad. But I didn't know how he really felt about it. I couldn't see inside his head.

Seth could.

"He's..." Seth paused, looking for the right word. "He's a little bit of both"

"Both what?"

"There's the sad part, the worry for his father, and then there's the extreme happiness he feels around you" Seth turned to smile at me. "He sort of shifts between the two these days. It's kind of confusing to be around when he does that actually."

"How so?"

"Well, his mood affects the others. Everybody affects everybody. If someone is really down, you most likely wont go around and be Mr. Happy Spirits yourself."

"But he's not really down, is he?" I asked terrified. He didn't seem really down.

"No, no. It was just an example. He's worried now and then, that's all. But then suddenly he starts thinking about you and he's the complete opposite. It's confusing when he does that, but I guess it's better than if he was worried all the time."

Seth sent me a smile, but I couldn't make myself smile back. I was worried for Jacob. I didn't want him to go around feeling worried. Billy was fine now, right?

"Hey. He's not, like, troubled." Seth tried to catch my eyes. "He's just been a little worried. You knew that. "

"I guess."

Seth poked me playfully in the side with his elbow.

"Cheer up. He's fine. It's Jacob we're talking about here. How are you two doing by the way?"

My head snapped up then, and his smile was a little bit too innocent.

"You've been talking to Paul, haven't you?"

"You're quick"

I groaned. "Of course he would spread the word"
Seth's eyes widened, and a very guy-ish grin threatened to spread on his face. "So it's true?"

I narrowed my eyes. "What exactly did he say to you?"
The innocent look was back.

"He just...said that he had...well, you know, walked in on you."

I snorted.

"Not likely, Seth. You should know better than listen to Paul."

His eyes turned back to their normal size, and he laughed.

"That's what I thought. I've heard stories like that from him a little bit too often" he paused, and the guy-ish grin crept back. "So you're sure you two haven't...?"

I hit his arm with the empty soda-bottle.
"No, we haven't! And that's none of your business anyway. Why is everyone so obsessed about that?"

Seth laughed.

"I know, I know, I'm just teasing."

My eyes narrowed again.

"You know?"

"Well..." In horror I watched his face turn a little red. "We pretty much know stuff like that. There's not much room for secrets in a pack. And not even Jacob would have enough self control to hide his thoughts if you guys had... you know. So it's really not a secret that you two haven't"

It was my turn to blush and I hit his arm with the soda bottle again just because I felt like it. He laughed and elbowed me in the ribs again.

"Chill, Nessie. No big deal"

"Humph."

After a little while, Jake returned to the beach. He walked over to me, but didn't bother to sit down.

"Wanna take a walk?"

He smiled down towards me, his hand outstretched. I grabbed it, and he pulled me up on my feet. We said bye to Seth, and started to walk down the beach away from the bonfire.

As we walked past Paul I lightly threw my empty soda bottle at him. It hit him in the head. He whirled around to see who it was, and his eyes landed on Jared who was sitting behind him. I almost felt sorry for Jared when Paul lunged himself over him, but then Jacob laughed in my ear and pulled my arm, and I forgot all about it.

We walked down the beach holding hands, and reached the place where the sand ended and the rocks began. We started to climb some of the rocks, and soon we couldn't see the bonfire anymore. I sat down on a rock, with the water edge less than a meter under us. The slight wind was making the waves foam white. Jacob sat down beside me.

"It's going to rain soon" he announced.

"I know" I smiled "Why do you think I'm wearing a raincoat?"

He wrapped his arm around me.

"Paul has been spreading rumors" I noted.

"I know" he chuckled " I'll get him back when he least expects it"

We didn't speak for a while, we just sat like that for a few minutes. It felt good to just be.

"Huh" Jacob said suddenly, and looked up at the sky.

"What?"

I looked at him. And then I looked up. And then I looked back at him again.

"What?" I said again. He kept looking up. So I looked up as well. And then the sky fell down.

I was soaked in less than a minute.

"I told you it was going to rain" he grinned down at me, water dripping from his hair as the rain kept pouring down on us. "Does the raincoat help?"

"I don't think I could get any wetter if I wanted to" I noted dryly.

"Really?"

His tone sounded challenging. I narrowed my eyes, trying to interpret his tone. I didn't make it that far though. The next second he'd gotten up on his feet, wiped me up from the ground and thrown me over his right shoulder.

"I'm willing to take you up on that" he continued.

And before I knew what was happening he had grabbed my waist and literary pushed me out into the dark water. Now, that I didn't expect. As I got my head back over the surface, I saw him standing over me on the rocks laughing his butt off. I felt my clothes float around me in the dark water, and my hair clung to my face. I was definitely soaked now.

"Jake!" I exclaimed loudly. He crouched down. I could reach him if I stretched up. He was so going to pay for this.

"Come on, help me up!" I demanded, making my voice sound whiny on purpose.

He chuckled.

"Just thought I'd just prove my point. It turned out you could get wetter"

He offered his hand for me, so that he could help me up.

Oh, he should never have done that.

I grabbed his hand tightly and pulled with all my strength. A surprised sound escaped his lips before he fell down and made the water splash violently as he hit the surface. When his face came up from the water, he sent me a daring look, but I could see he was straining to keep from laughing.

"I told you you shouldn't underestimate me" I said, grinning. "You don't mess with the Lock Ness monster."

He couldn't hold his laughter back any longer then, and his eyes were gleaming as he looked at me. I took him in. He was magnificent. He didn't wear a shirt, as usual, and I could see every defined muscle on his upper body. His hair was dripping , water pooling down his face. His arms were glistening with water in the dim light. While for myself, I felt like a soaked puppy.

Funny how I was the one ending up looking like a soaked animal.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. When I opened them, he was gone. I looked around, but then felt a hand wrap around my leg and pull me under. Oh crap. After a whole lot of splashing and tumbling around I felt his hands wrap around my waist, and we both broke the surface. He smiled to me and held me close to him, as if I couldn't swim or something. I didn't really mind. He lovingly wiped the hair away from my face.

"Fine" I said. "Now I'm soaked. But so are you"

I reached up in his arms and brought my lips to his. I felt his grip tighten around me as his lips crashed into mine as well. I instantly forgot everything. All I could think about was him and how his lips felt against mine. One of his hands sneaked up from around my waist to skim along my arm and shoulder before cradling the back of my head. He pulled me closer, deepening the kiss, making my toes curl.

Of course, just then a wave decided to flush down both of us, making me realize where we were.

"Let's get up" I said. "before Paul finds us here and spread the word we're having sex in the water"

Jacob snorted and started moving us in the direction of the rocks.

We ran home, since any car really would have been ruined if we tried to sit in it now. Jacob followed me to the door like a real gentleman, kissing me tenderly before he left.

My dad eyed me when I walked in the door, taking in my wet clothes. But when I showed him an image of me pulling Jacob down in the water, with an underlining that clearly said revenge, he burst out laughing.

Well, as long as I kept my thoughts on that and not on the making-out session that had happened later, I would be fine. Dad stopped laughing abruptly. I'd accidentally slipped some images I knew he'd rather not see, and he sent me a dissatisfied look. Ops. Sorry dad. I filled my head with thoughts of ice-cream and butterflies while I hurried in to the bathroom to take a shower.

A.N: See? No mean cliffies this time;) Many of you guessed that it was Jacob next to her in the woods, and some of you thought it might be some crazy vamp. Don't worry, I wont add any crazy vamps.

Yet.

Mohahaha.