"You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles."

― C. JoyBell C.

They combed every inch of the woods, but the scent was gone. It lingered, stinging Jacob's nose as he prowled around Shay's house for the twentieth time, his tracks crisscrossing the trees and dirt of her backyard.

His mind was still racing.

Vampires. Here. Vampires in La Push, near Shay. What were they doing here?

Everyone else was busy checking on their own families and everywhere in between, but Jacob stayed close to Shay, listening for news.

Anyone see anything? Jacob thought, keeping his eyes on the trees.

I smelled it to the Forks border, and then I lost it. Embry's thoughts filtered through.

Do you think it has to do with the Cullens?

I don't think so… That was Jacob's first thought, but the smell had been strongest around Shay's house. What would she have to do with it?

Maybe it's just a coincidence. Seth offered, his mind abuzz.

Vampires don't stumble into our territory by coincidence. Sam firmly corrected, his tone final.

Jacob couldn't keep his thoughts straight. Worry flooded his system so instantly and completely, it scared him. He knew it was the imprint at work, making his body ache, turning his stomach and making him want to tear to pieces whatever got near Shay. Even if she hated him. Even if he wasn't so happy with her.

But now what?

The vampire was gone, but it could be back. How was he going to protect her if she didn't want to be anywhere near him?

Maybe you should talk to Bella. The Cullens might know something, even if it doesn't have to do with them. Quil suggested, calm despite Jacob's rising panic.

Sure, let's run to the vampires for help. Paul's angry thoughts cut through, but Jacob ignored him.

I can't leave. Jacob peered at Shay's house, the yellow lights from her windows pouring onto her pebbled driveway. He caught glimpses of her every now and then, and his heart jolted every time he thought she might walk out the door.

We'll watch her. Embry promised.

What if something happens?

I'll watch her. She's pack. We all will.

Jacob still wasn't sure. He wanted to find out what was going on, but the pull to be near Shay was practically magnetic. It made his bones glue to the ground to think of leaving.

I can go.

Seth was confident and carefree, even in his thoughts. Jacob was surprised only for a moment that he was willing to go.

Are you sure?

Definitely. Bella likes me. I'll go now and see what they say.

Jacob nodded before realizing no one could see him, but it was already decided. He felt relief flood his system as he continued to patrol, feeling Seth's mind disappear as he phased back.

It's good. That you're staying.

Sam's voice made Jacob feel strange. Just days ago, he would've jumped at the chance to see Bella- to talk to her, about anything. But he couldn't get her face out of his mind as she spoke to him yesterday.

"I think you know what's going to happen."

Soon, Bella could be one of the creatures they were hunting right now. Soon, she'd be something he didn't even recognize. And would he still love her, if she was something else?

Don't think about it right now. We'll deal with this first. Hopefully Seth can get some answers.

Jacob tried to take Sam's advice to heart, but for the next few hours Shay's face, then Bella's, then the cold eyes of vampires flashed through his mind over and over.

Shay pulled her hood over her head and locked her door, squinting through the rain and praying her car would start as she jogged over. She felt the rain pelting her arms and seeping into her hoodie as she jiggled the handle forcefully, the door just opening when a beep made her jump in surprise.

"Shay! We'll give you a ride!"

Shay was surprised to see Kim's head craning out of the window of a beat up truck. But she didn't have time to linger on it with the water trickling down her neck, so she ran to the side with a huge dent in it. Water splashed from her boots as she hopped inside.

She immediately stiffened. Jacob was sitting in the backseat, spine hunched as his eyes ran over her face. His expression looked pained, his eyes red like he didn't get enough sleep.

She nodded briefly at him before looking to Jared and Kim in the front seat.

"Hey guys. What are you doing here?"

"Well it's downpouring, and we know your car is less than reliable." Kim's voice sounded a little off to her, but Shay just shrugged it off.

"Yeah, you're right." Shay forced a chuckle. "Thanks."

Shay buckled herself in, putting her messenger bag in the middle seat. The car smelled faintly of pine and some sort of rubber.

Jared backed up and turned back onto the road, his face taut in concentration, his posture rigid. Actually everyone seemed pretty tense. Nervous, almost. She could sense the strange energy in the air.

She chanced a look at Jacob. His eyes were on the window, but she could see his grim expression in the reflection of the window. His right hand was balled into a fist, the fabric of his jeans bunched in his hand. She could see the other one, poised on the handle like he was going to spring from the car at any moment.

She wondered if he told anyone about their encounter yesterday. She hoped not, and curled deeper into her side of the truck to block out the memory.

The silence continued as Shay counted the raindrops on her window, tracing which ones fell the fastest. The radio wasn't even on. She could feel Jacob's eyes, somehow, even though she wasn't looking at him. She unzipped her hoodie to release some of the heat prickling her skin.

"So, uh, what are you guys doing this weekend?" Shay asked, hoping to ease the tension.

"Just...staying in," Kim replied. Shay saw her eyes flicker to Jared, whose mouth was pressed into a firm line.

Were they fighting?

Shay didn't think so. One of Jared's hands was wrapped around the gearshift and Kim's hand hung loosely around his.

"You should stay in, too."

Shay was surprised by Jacob's voice. It sounded raspy and deeper than she'd ever noticed.

And then she realized what he'd said.

"What? Why?"

Jacob opened his mouth and closed it. His eyes found the car roof as if somehow she was exasperating him, even though she'd only said two words.

"There have been animal sightings," Jared cut in, his blinker clicking on. "Bad...weather, too. You should stay at Kim's."

"Oh." Shay was confused. She wished she could see Kim's face from here. It was easier to read than the back of her head. "Uh, I have something on Saturday. So maybe we'll see each other Sunday."

A tense silence followed. Was everyone being weird, or was it just her mind imagining things?

"Where are you going on Saturday?" Jacob's voice sounded like he was trying to be casual, but came out sort of strained and high pitched.

"I'm not sure yet, actually." Shay didn't know why, but she didn't want to mention that it was a date.

"So it's so important that you don't even know what it is?"

Shay's temper flickered, making her neck grow hot as she turned to face Jacob.

"I didn't say it was so important."

"Well you're ditching Kim's invitation for it." Jacob mocked, rolling his eyes.

"Kim didn't invite me anywhere, why are you—"

"—We are telling you that you should be careful—"

"—I can take care of myself—"

"—You're being naïve, not to mention rude—"

"—Really? I'm being rude—"

"Hey! We're here. Let's all just take a breath."

Jared broke up her and Jacob's argument, his voice rising above theirs as he slowed the car to a stop. Shay felt her anger halt in her chest,her throat burning with it.

What was the deal with this kid?

Jacob looked like he was about to say something, but Shay wasn't about to hear it, so she grabbed her bag and flew out the door before slamming it. She thought she heard Kim call out to her, but she ignored it and ran to the doors, not bothering to even put her hood up as rain pummeled her the whole way.

It was around lunchtime that Shay realized the guys were being weird.

It was like they were all out to make sure she wasn't alone. For one second. At all.

She suspected they'd all heard about the fight, but that didn't explain why they all suddenly cared if she was by herself in the hallway for three seconds.

Quil—who had a guidance counselor appointment—completely bypassed the counselor's office to walk her all the way to math class, where Jacob glared at her the whole period. Paul—who was usually no less than five minutes late for history followed her the whole way there and then all the way to English after that. And now, Seth was lingering by her locker, waiting for her to get her lunch.

"I don't see it anywhere," Shay grumbled, flinging her pencil case into her locker as she dug through her bag. "It might have fallen out in Jared's truck. I'll go look."

"I'll get him!" Seth said quickly, turning for the cafeteria.

"It's okay. His right side door lock is broken. I'll just check quickly."

"No!"

Shay was startled when Seth grabbed her arm, twirling her around to face him.

"I mean, I'll come," Seth amended, his cheeks turning pink as she grabbed her arm back and rubbed where his fingertips were.

"Alright," she growled. "What is going on?"

"What do you mean?" Seth asked dumbly, licking his lips.

"I mean, everyone is acting like lunatics, following me everywhere." She felt like she was in a weird witness protection that she didn't sign up for. "But I don't know why."

"I don't...I don't know what you mean." Seth squirmed under her gaze, her eyes not quite meeting hers.

"I think you do," Shay frowned, poking him in the chest.

"I don't."

"You're lying!" Shay's eyes narrowed. "You're fidgeting. And you're not looking at me!"

"That's just the way I talk to people?" Seth's reply was more of a question than an answer.

"Are you aware we've had conversations before?" Shay crossed her arms. The hallways were pretty much empty now, everyone already in the cafeteria. Her stomach was growling, but she wanted answers.

"Look, it's not...It's not as crazy as it seems. It's just...well it's not my place to say."

"So whose place is it?"

Seth froze again, his mouth open slightly as his eyes grew wide.

"I've gotta go."

Seth turned on his heel and walked into the cafeteria, leaving trails of panic behind him.

Shay took note of his behavior. It would be helpful if she ever had to write a highly suspicious character into one of her stories.

Rolling her eyes, she started to walk down the hallway—finally alone—to see if her lunch was in Jared's car. Her shoes squeaked in the watery trails of everyone else's feet.

She made it as far as the teacher's lounge before she felt someone fall into step beside her.

She noticed the beat up sneakers first, then cuffed jeans trailing up to a heather gray shirt that she knew hugged a muscular chest and arms. She didn't go upwards to think of the copper, smooth skin on a face that was usually scowling at her.

"I'm not in the mood, Jacob," Shay sighed.

Her anger from the morning had faded to a dull ache that radiated through her body, making her feel tired instead of mad.

"I'm not here to fight. I'm here to call a truce. If you'll have me."

Shay paused.

"Fine."

She nodded at him and kept walking, figuring he would turn and go back to lunch. Instead, his steps continued to mirror hers.

"I can walk by myself, you know."

"Just let me walk you," Jacob said softly.

"I'm feeling an odd sense of déjà vu." Shay couldn't believe it was just yesterday he had walked her home. She raised her eyebrows at him.

"Just...please? You don't even have to talk to me. I'd just rather you didn't walk alone."

But her words were lost when he moved in front of her.

"Wait." He put a hand up. "We didn't shake."

"Shake?"

"Oh the truce. It's not official until we shake."

"Oh, I didn't know about the ever-binding shake."

Jacob's mouth quirked.

"Ever-binding is more of a pinky swear," Jacob smoothed his face into a steady look. "But I don't know if you're ready for that yet."

Shay could've commented on his flip flopping behavior, or his weird sense of chivalry, or the fact that he must know why all the guys were acting weird. She could've told him to back off, that she was fine alone, that despite his insisting, she could handle him hating her.

But for some reason, she reached out her hand.

Jacob grinned as he reached his forward, grabbing her own. His teeth were white against his skin, and his smile made him a whole different person. One who didn't hate her so much, one that she could imagine teasing and laughing with and liking. His hand was almost twice the size of hers, and so hot she almost pulled away. But she didn't-instead, she shook it twice, feeling the callouses on his fingertips and the smoothness of his palms.

He dropped her hand finally, turning back around and letting her catch up to him.

As they kept walking, she felt the tension in her body loosen a little. And some of the tiredness in her bones lightened as he bumped her elbow.

And finally, her anger disappeared as he ran to open the door for her, bowing with a flourish.

She rolled her eyes, but he just smirked, like he knew something she didn't.