Jacob Black
Life was getting back to normal. Well, as normal as a werewolf could get. Liz was a huge part of my normalcy. After being kidnapped we all made sure to keep close tabs on her. If I wasn't with her than one of us would be close by. I could tell that Liz was starting to feel a little suffocated. She was an only child and had, from what I could tell, parents that gave her a lot of space. I, on the other hand, wasn't used to having any space whatsoever.
"I, need, you, to, back, off." She wasn't happy. I had seen Liz at her worst: exhausted, scared, and hurt. I knew that the pack was driving her crazy. "I need space, badly."
"I know honey and I'm sorry. But, I can't let anything happen to you. I will never forgive myself for your kidnapping." I had to steady my breathing, this created an awkward pause.
"Jacob Black, I hereby absolve you of all responsibility for my kidnapping." She was using a formal tone that seemed a little silly but I knew that she was serious.
"Well thank you, babe. I'm glad that you have absolved me, but I can't forgive myself. Ever." I swallowed hard to keep the emotion down. Liz could see right through me.
"Aww sweetie, you need to go easier on yourself. I know that you have abandonment issues especially concerning Bella. I'm sorry." Her eyes were so sad and worried for me.
"I wish you could have met the Bella I knew. My Bella was so special, and maybe she will change her mind. I don't know." No, I did know. I knew exactly what was wrong. "No, Bella has changed. She's become more stubborn and demanding. It seems like she is figuring out what she wants and is going for it. That's the Bella you saw, she has finally found her voice and determination. I wish she could be with her family, and me. But she made her decision and she is going to live with it."
"I liked Bella, beside the whole Charlie thing; I can see why you loved her. She obviously loves her family and I respect that." Liz smiled, I loved how good natured she was. It takes a very special girl to accept her boyfriend's ex-love. "Oh, and she was so cute!" we both laughed.
"I'm so glad that things are better." I said but I could see Liz's smile starting to fade.
"Do you think it's over? Will they get the message? Will they ever stop?" she was starting to shake so I put my arms around her and took some deep breaths. I wondered if she was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
"It will stop sweetie. They will go away and we will be safe. You are always safe when you are with me." Her shaking subsided but she still looked pale.
"I just feel so suffocated. Suffocated and scared." She took a deep breath and forced a smile. "But I love you."
"Then that's all that matters." I smiled sincerely. Liz shrugged and I walked her home.
"Charlie, for the last time, I don't know anything." He had been grilling me for days. My dad was doing his best to handle Charlie's new found spirit. He woke up. Charlie's zombie days were over and now he had a mission to find Bella.
"Lay off poor Jacob and let's go fishing." Dad tried his best to distract Charlie; we both knew that his search would only cause more problems.
"I need to find her, I will find her." Charlie seemed to be warning me more than he was saying this to my dad. I wasn't the best liar in the world and I could only keep up so much resolve.
"Ok buddy." My dad gave me a quick look that meant: this-is-sort-of-your-fault-fix-it. I walked to the kitchen where Charlie must have thought I was out of earshot.
"Billy, I know he's your boy, but please! He knows something, I can see it. I know she's out there." I was eavesdropping, which was easy because of my 'special abilities'.
"And I know that there are fish that need catching. Let's go!" my dad was getting impatient which was rare for him.
"I saw her, I saw her talking to Liz and Jacob. I know exactly what I saw!" Charlie was defending himself. "I know everyone thinks I'm crazy, but I'm not. Ok?" I heard Charlie stomp outside and drive off.
"Jacob!" my dad yelled for me. Damn.
"Yeah dad?" I was playing innocent but I knew it probably wouldn't work.
"We need to talk." I sat down across from him, I knew what was coming. "Jacob, I know that you didn't choose this life. Your destiny was predetermined in your genes and I'm sorry. I am so sorry that I need to say this: you must get out. You and Liz need to get away. I wondered if this day would come and now I know. It was a huge risk having Charlie stay here, but I thought that with the Cullen's gone our real problems were over. I think I was wrong, Jake. You are not safe here anymore."
"Dad, I could never abandon La Push." I said simply. This was my home and I could never leave.
"You wouldn't be abandoning La Push. We all know how much you love this community but I can't have you stay here any longer. You and Elizabeth need to leave." He said this simply and I could see the tears forming in those eyes I'd looked into a million times.
"No." I said weakly, I couldn't imagine for a second leaving. I felt myself start to cry. I couldn't hold back any longer because I knew that we had to leave. Deep down I knew that if Liz and I left Charlie would have less to go on and ultimately our secrets would be much safer.
"You have to get out of Washington. I don't want to see you go but I think if I handle Charlie without you here, I can really help him."
"I don't think the vampires will stop. They obviously want us all gone and we need to defend ourselves." I rebutted. My dad shook his head.
"It would be selfish for you to stay and only protect our lands. We have plenty of other wolves for that and more on the way. You can go." He was trying to smile to reassure me, but it came out as a grimace.
"I left La Push once, I don't want to again." I was talking in circles and my dad knew that my resolve was breaking.
"I love you son, but you know what you have to do."
Lila
"Why has Jacob Black been spending so much time with you?" my father was always more observant than my mom. She was pretty oblivious; sometimes I wondered if she could see beyond her bifocals and books. I told my parents that there was an emergency with Jake. Thankfully, my parents hardly noticed my absence.
"He's my boyfriend, and he wants to spend time with me." I shrugged.
"I know your mom and I have been a little… preoccupied. Believe it or not, I know you well enough to know that you need space. You were just raised that way; we always wanted you to be independent." I had always known this about my parents. They were too tied up in their work to raise a child. Alas, I was born. They had prepared me from day one, to leave the nest. They loved me the best they could considering their occupations and the way they love. I was raised by two work-obsessed geeks. There had never been room in their lives for me.
"I do need space, but I am learning to love sharing." I smiled warmly at my father and he turned away. He was just doing his best.
"Just let me know if you two decide to run away together." He laughed. I laughed as well, mostly because the idea truly seemed absurd. I wasn't going anywhere; I had finally found a place where I fit in, I had finally found a family.
"You have nothing to worry about." He smiled and turned back to his work.
It was time for dinner at Emily and Sam's. Emily and I had grown a lot since my kidnapping, she expressed exactly how much she had worried for me and we grew a lot closer. I was even starting to make small break-throughs with the ever-so-shy Kim. Everything was falling into place; my whole life I'd wanted a place of belonging and I'd found it, finally. However, at this particular meeting I noticed that Jacob was acting standoffish and I was starting to worry. Like a proper girlfriend should. He was being unresponsive and a little snappy with the guys.
"What's up your butt?" Seth blurted after a particular chide didn't settle well with Jacob.
"Nothing. I can't tell you now but you'll know soon enough." He said quietly. Now I was completely freaked out, a) Jacob loved to tease and never missed an opportunity to get in a good jab, b) he never avoided eye contact, and c) he was never quiet. I loved all of the above mentioned qualities. They made Jake, well, Jake. I turned to Emily and she shrugged. We walked into the kitchen, Kim followed, and we had our own meeting.
"Any ideas?" I asked right off the bat. They both knew exactly what I was referring to.
"I have no clue." Emily started. "I've only seen Jacob like this once before. That was after Bella left. He was detached, he moped around, and eventually he fled for the entire summer."
"I think I know what's happening." Kim said quietly. We both looked at her in surprise. Kim was quiet, yet observant, and when she did speak it was always the truth. "He is detaching, again. I can feel it."
"I don't know. I don't feel like he's trying to leave me." And I didn't feel that way, but I was starting to worry. He wouldn't talk to Sam or Emily and I had a sinking feel in the bottom of my stomach.
"No, he's going to leave us." Kim replied and gave Emily a look. We walked back into the main room and Jacob looked pale. He looked sick and pale. I walked over and sat next to him, I put my arm around Jake and I could feel him lean into me. In that simple motion I felt his sorrow. It felt deep seeded and I couldn't understand what was going on. He gave me a look that said: I can't take this, it hurts too much. He got up and ran outside.
"What is his problem?" Jared exclaimed. Kim gave him a warning look. "What? What do you all know that we are all missing?"
"I wish I knew." I said mostly to myself. The meeting continued and we all went around expressing our concerns about Jacob and the next shifts for watching me.
"I'm sorry you have to do this." I said to everyone and they all avoided my gaze. I knew that they were sorry they had to do this also. I knew more than that, that they were sorry I had been kidnapped and hurt. It was hard to be in the room and watch as the boys sorted out shifts for following me around. I wished Jacob was still there and in better spirits. I wished that I could maintain my independence and most of all I wished everyone could be light-hearted again. I knew that this would take time, and I was sad that I had become such a burden. All these thought weighed heavily on my heart. Seth walked me home and he seemed to be the most light-hearted of the bunch.
"And I was just thinking: when is it gonna be my turn? You know?! It's so annoying. And do you think that…" blah blah blah. He just continued chattering away. It was laughable and I was enjoying myself. I like to lose myself in the ups, downs, and influx of Seth's voice. He was a really good kid, he tried a little too hard, but he was good. "And then Jake said 'I think she's forever,' it was really sweet." He caught my attention.
"I'm sorry, please slow down and repeat that last part." I said with a sly smile. Seth was young and very sweet.
"Well, you know." He was trying to be tough guy now. I hated when guys would immediately go from emotionally open to thug in two seconds. Getting them back to emotional openness always took much more time.
"No, I don't know." I stopped walking so we could face each other. "Spill."
"Ok ok, you win. Geez, do you always win?" he was changing the subject.
"Don't change the subject."
"Jacob, well he, uh, he really loves you. I guess I never realized how much he likes you, love you. He said, 'She's my end and my beginning.' It was pretty cool." Seth blushed and shrugged. I put one arm around him and we continued to walk and he continued to chatter away. This time he was more careful with what he said.
A few days went by and Jacob continued to act strangely and anytime anyone would ask him about it he would say "you'll find out soon enough." So that was that. We were hanging out at his house, Charlie was working and Billy was watching TV.
"I can't take it anymore Jake." He was sitting across the table from me; we'd been talking. "I need to know what's up. We are partners in this relationship and I need to know what's wrong. I need to know why you are acting this way. Please."
He sighed and I could see that he was starting to fight off tears. Billy abruptly shut off the TV and walked into the kitchen.
"Elizabeth we need to talk." Billy didn't ever call me Elizabeth, at least not to my face. He liked to call me Lizzie.
"Ok." I said this slowly. Billy sat down next to Jacob. "Are you breaking up with me? Because that would be a cruel and awful joke at this point."
"God no, I love you." Jacob said but his voice was dark with emotion. He couldn't look at me but I knew his sincerity.
"Elizabeth-" Billy started.
"You never call me Elizabeth." I interrupted, I couldn't help myself because I was so nervous.
"Lizzie," he said gently, "I don't want anything to happen to you and Jacob. I love you both very much. But-"
"Oh god. There's always a but." I interrupted again.
"You and Jacob need to leave town. Now." He said simply while looking me straight in the eyes.
"What?" Shock, hurt, and scared. "I-I can't process this."
"You and Jacob need to leave town. You need to go far, like Europe, or Asia, or Australia."
"W-w-why?" I finally spat, I could feel big fat tears rolling down my cheeks. I tried to blink them back but they kept coming.
"Because Charlie is starting to catch on and he saw the two of you with Bella. He saw you. He, saw, you, both." I felt like he was patronizing me.
"I GET IT! I understand." I took a deep breath and steadied myself. "We can handle Charlie! We can make him understand. We will hold true to our story. We, saw, nothing. It was a figment of his imagination. Easy." I was borderline hysterical.
"Calm. Please be calm. You don't know much about Charlie. He can track anything, and he will. Bella will mess up sooner or later, and with Charlie looking he will find her." I let this sink in, I was obviously missing something.
"No. We could handle Charlie. There is something else; something I'm missing." I was searching for it.
"You know what it is. Them." Jacob said. "They will never stop hunting us. They want you and me to get to Bella and Edward."
"No! No they don't! If anything they want all of you! They want the werewolves!" I was right, I knew I was right. This didn't make any sense.
"They won't know that you are gone and they need time to regroup." Billy answered. "There are plenty of new werewolves awaking everyday. A war is coming and the two of you need to live awhile, before-before…" the old man's face crumbled. He started crying, the kitchen was filled with crying people.
"Dad, nothing will happen. I'm a strong fighter." Jacob put an arm around Billy.
"I want you to get away and live, together. Please. I want you to live and I am worried that you will spend the rest of your life fighting them. So, please go soon."
"How-how can w-we do that? I know I can't afford a trip to Europe. Or really anywhere." I hadn't fully processed everything he was saying.
"I have money. I have money that I have saved for this day." Billy said this slowly and Jacob was open mouthed and just shocked.
"What are you saying? What are you talking about?" Jacob asked slowly. He looked over at me and gave a small smile. He knew that I spoke French and German fluently (a byproduct of my professor parents). He also knew that I had been dying to go to Europe. I knew that Europe would probably not be a place for Jacob. Jacob would do well in Alaska or New Mexico. Not Europe. I just wanted him to be happy.
"I have had these legends passed down to me from your grandfather and from his grandfather, and on down the line. A few years ago I met Tanya and her group of vampires. I didn't even know what they were at the time. I just had a feeling. That is when I started saving. At first it was to prepare for the financial costs of a battle. Then Sam's genes kicked in and I put more money away. Finally, when you changed I knew that I needed to save for you. For your life. I know you thought we were poor because of reservation life, but in actuality we are poor by choice. My choice to some day give you this money so that you can live. I want you to live a little before-before something bad happens."
"No, dad. This is your money you should enjoy it." Jacob begged.
"No Jacob, I have had a good life. I have lived, now I want you to live." Billy took my hand. "And I want you to live with the person that you love." I smiled weakly at Billy and squeezed his hand.
We sat in the park together. No words were exchanged. I let my emotions wash over me: first came the sadness, a bone deep sadness for the idea of losing Jacob. Second I felt a terrifying fear of leaving my family. Third I felt a secret thrill for traveling the world. I turned to Jacob who was sitting next to me and I smiled.
"Where can we go that would make you happy?" I asked Jacob. He had a thoughtful look on his face.
"I don't know. I really don't know." He looked over at me as a realization struck me.
"I've heard legends before of a Russian prince from the 11th century who was considered to be a werewolf. You, I mean we might fit in there."
"We don't speak Russian. I don't speak anything, well except English." He seemed shy. "I want this money to go toward your life too. I want you to be happy."
"Well, we can go to Russia and make our way over to France; I've heard of werewolf stories in France." I smiled at Jake. "I will teach you French! It'll be fun. Maybe we'll even go to China." Jacob brightened and seemed to really consider our options.
"So that it." He was beaming now. "We're going to Russia!"