Chapter 19

The Distance

"Here, officer." I said, handing over the documents. I waited patiently for him to assess the files... it's not like I had anywhere else to go.

"You check out, miss. Sorry for your time." The cop said, handing me my license and registration back. "You're free to go."

I smiled in understanding and stowed the documents away. I waited a few moments before the police car sped off, then just sat there.

What else can I do? I asked myself.

These past few days, I've managed to keep myself busy by reading some books, shopping, hunting, watching movies — almost everything I could imagine so I could stay away from Seth and give us some space like Carlisle advised.

A knock came on my window, and I jumped. I was surprised to see Jacob, Quil, and Embry standing right outside.

I rolled down the window. "Hey, guys."

"You know, for a vampire, you're not very sharp." Embry joked.

"Why are you just sitting there?" Jacob asked, pointing at the driver's seat.

I sighed, switching off the ignition and getting out of the car. "Because I have nothing else to do?"

"Why don't you call Seth? He's been wondering what you've been up to. He also says you've been telling him you're busy." Quil said pointedly.

I ground my teeth and looked at the couple across the street holding hands. "Can you guys be honest with me?" I asked, leaning against the car frame.

Jacob gave me a confused look. "What is it?"

"Well, do you think it's right that I keep Seth distant for now? Like, just as friends?" I asked.

They contemplated this.

"What I know is that there are stages to imprinting, right, Quil?" Embry asked.

Quil nodded. "If you're in my situation, then I'd act like an older brother. As my imprint grows, we'll become best friends. As she gets older, only then do romantic feelings start to show." He said. "At least, that's how Sam tried to get me to understand my situation."

"Okay, so…?" I pried.

"So... Has he shown you any signs of his feelings?" Embry asked.

"Okay, seriously, Em? We hear his thoughts everyday all the time and you're asking that?" Jacob said.

"Wait, so can he hear your thoughts?" I asked. "Shit."

"Relax. As second-in-command I have some power of my own. The only one who can hear us right now is Sam and he could care less." Jacob smirked.

"Well, what should I do?" I asked exasperatedly, burying my face in my hands.

"In your case, you're older than Seth." Embry pointed out. "Much older. So I'd say you're wearing the pants in this relationship." He joked.

"Embry, please." I pleaded calmly.

"Look, Seth's still young. He hasn't even dated anyone yet, for heaven's sake, and won't until you agree to." Jacob said.

"Agree to dating?" I asked.

"Yeah. He said — well, technically thought aloud — that he had already asked your parents."

"Awww, so that's what they discussed." I smiled.

"Mhm." Jake said, nodding. "But like I said, he's still young. If you're asking me for advice, I'd say keep things as they are for now. You two at least have plenty of time left together." He admitted honestly.

I nodded in understanding. "Yeah, that's the same thing Carlisle said."

"It'll all be fine, Callie." He smiled sympathetically at me.

I looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you being so nice to me? I thought you truly hate vampires."

"Well you're only half-vampire. Which means you're half-human, so you're still a person to me, which makes me want to protect you, still. Instinctively, of course." He said. "Plus, Seth's like a little bro... Like, a pest of a little bro. You're his girl, so, yeah."

"...Ok then." I shrugged. "Where are you guys headed off to?" I asked, opening my car door again.

"Just finished, actually. Heading home now." Jacob said, looking inside my car. "Very nice." He commented.

I grinned at him. "Thanks. Want a ride? I can take you to your place." I offered.

"Heck yes!" Embry pumped his fist.

"Definitely. I hated that cab driver." Quil said.

"Yes please." Jacob caved.

I rolled the top. "Well, hop in."

They did so, and Jacob sat shotgun.

We drove out of the main city and into the Quileute lands.

"Hey, Quil?" I asked, halfway through the drive.

"Yeah?" He asked, catching my gaze through the rearview mirror.

"Don't get me wrong or anything, but how does your relationship with Claire work? You know, how is it like?" I inquired.

His face scrunched up in consideration. "It's totally platonic — how I feel towards her. It's like all I really just want to do is protect her and make her happy. You know, like a real big brother."

"And then later on when she grows, that's when..." I moved my head around suggestively.

"Well, hopefully." He nodded with a side smile.

"Quil, that kid is as possessive of you as you are of her." Embry said.

I grinned. "That's adorable."

Quil blushed.

"We actually tried getting him into dating other women first." Embry told me.

"And how did that work out?" I asked.

Quil shook his head. "There's no one else."

I smiled to myself, adjusting my sunglasses. "This is it."

They thanked me as I slowed to a halt right before Jacob's run-down house on the rez.

"Hey, Jacob." I stopped him before he got out of the car.

"What's up?" He asked, confused.

"Will Seth be upset? About being just friends?" I asked.

He considered this. "Want me to talk to him?"

"You'd seriously do that?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah, of course."

"Yes, please. I don't want to be the one." I admitted. "It's just that everyone's saying it's the right thing to do, and I believe I think so, too, you know, for his sake? I feel like I might've rushed him into it in my desperation that I just... can't."

"So you want me to talk to him and make him think he's the one doing this." Jacob said more than asked. "Yeah, ok."

"Thank you so much." I smiled, and he got out of the car. I drove back home, happy with my decision, yet still holding some doubt.

I hardly convinced myself that it was for the best when Seth's calls became less frequent. From twice a day, they would only come once every other day, just to check how I was doing. We didn't talk about much, and it was like a knife cutting me open every time I rejected him. After two weeks, I felt it was somehow enough.

I didn't have to wait long for Seth to pick up the phone.

"Callie, hey." His voice made him sound like he was in Disneyland.

"Hey, Seth. Wanna come over and watch some movies or something? I'm free today."

"Uh, yeah, yeah sure. I can come over now." He said coolly, yet I could sense it was a front.

"Okay. See you." I moved to hang up.

"Do you want me to bring anything? Snacks, or—"

"It's fine. Everything's here. You can bring anything you might want to watch, though. But I also have Netflix, if you-"

"Oh, ok great."

"Yeah."

"Okay then. I'll be over in a bit."

"Yeah."

"Bye."

"Bye." I hung up.

Worst. Phone call. Ever.

I went upstairs to check on what Bree was doing.

"Seth's coming over to watch some movies. Wanna join us?" I asked from the doorway.

"The guy who came over before?" She asked, eyes glued to the TV screen.

"Yeah." I said.

"It's fine. I have my own program here." She smiled at me contentedly from her couch.

I nodded and exited the room. I checked the rest of the house, finding it empty. Then I went back up to Bree.

"Do you know where everyone went?" I asked.

Bree shrugged. "I know Jasper's helping Edward with his suit for the wedding, and Alice and Esme are making arrangements for stuff. Carlisle's at the hospital... I'm not sure about Rosalie and Emmett."

"Okay then. Thanks." I said, and went back downstairs.

I took the frozen store-bought pizza from the freezer and popped it in the oven. I also took a pack of popcorn kernels and popped it in my traditional popcorn popper, as well as brought out a few large bottles of soda.

I heard Seth's car as it neared, about a mile or so away. I waited patiently until it came up the driveway and opened the front door for him.

"Callie, hey." Seth had his huge grin as always, and gave me a small hug when I let him in.

"Hey, Seth." I smiled. I walked with him to the kitchen. "I'm just preparing some food for us." I announced, checking the pizza.

"Okay, awesome." He smiled, looking at the popper. "Nice."

I pulled the pizza out with mittens when it was ready, and plated it.

"So, what movies did you have in mind for today?" He asked, leaning over the kitchen breakfast bar.

I shrugged. "None in particular."

"Okay, then... What kind of movies do you like?" He asked, helping me bring the food to the living room, where we set it down on the glass coffee table.

"The usual. I know you're into action stuff. Why don't we watch superhero movies?" I suggested, getting the remote.

"But what do you want to watch?" He watched me as I set the TV.

"I remember every movie I watch and I don't usually watch that many superhero films, so what do you suggest?" I said with an awkward chuckle.

"Do you like X-Men?" He asked cautiously.

"Yeah, I love X-Men. We could marathon it." I said, walking to the couch and sitting. I looked up at him. "Well, take a seat."

He sat down next to me, clearly nervous.

I flicked through until I found what I was looking for, and the movie began. I put my feet up next to me.

"Seth, relax." I said, seeing from my peripheral vision how stiff he was sitting on the edge of the couch.

He glimpsed at me and leaned back.

We watched the movie with no other sounds than the crunch of popcorn and of glass clink-ing.

"Where's the restroom?" He asked before the next movie started.

I pointed him to the direction and he went.

God, this is going worse than I'd hoped.

I looked at my charm bracelet and rubbed the brown wooden wolf. As the opening credits rolled, I sighed.

Seth returned, and we smiled at each other.

"You gonna stay til late?" I asked during the opening scene.

"Only if you want me to." He looked at me blankly, but I could feel the pent-up tension building inside of him.

I kept my focus fixated on the screen, but could still see him in my peripherals. "Do you want to?"

He shrugged. "I have no plans."

I nodded. "So is that a yes? These movies are pretty long."

He smiled. "Yeah."

"Okie." I said nonchalantly, and Seth felt much more relaxed.

The series was ending by the time Rosalie, Emmett, and Alice came home.

"Oh, Seth. Hey." Emmett smiled, doing the guy bro-hug.

Seth smiled.

"Are you two on a—" Alice started, her eyebrow high in the air.

I shook my head. "No, not at all. Just watching movies. You could join us if you—"

"No thanks, bye." Rose cut me off, dragging Emmett upstairs to their room. Alice followed quickly after them.

"—want." I finished. I sat on the couch with Seth again.

"So we're done with X-Men." Seth said, setting his glass down.

I nodded, staring dazed at the last slice of pizza. "Yup."

"Yeah." He said, looking at the floor.

"Wanna watch anything else?" I offered.

"Actually, you know, now that I think about it, I should head back." He stood abruptly. "It's getting kinda late."

I looked out the window and saw that it was on the brink of sunset. Late...? "Oh. Alright."

"I'm really glad we did this though. Thanks." He said, and I walked him to the door.

"Yeah, no problem. It was good." I nodded, opening the front door.

"Yeah, definitely." He smiled.

"Yeah." I nodded again.

We stood there awkwardly on the porch, and I was laser-focused on a lone ant crawling on the front steps.

"So when can I see you again?" Seth asked.

I looked to him in surprise and pursed my lips. "When are you free?"

"Anytime except Mondays and Sundays." He said. "Patrols."

I nodded in understanding. "How about tomorrow? We can do something you want to do."

"Sure. Do you want to... umm... grab a bite for lunch?" He asked unsurely.

"That'll be great. I'll meet up with you there. Just text me where." I said with a grin.

"Okay. Great. See you." He waved, walking to his car.

"Yeah. See you." I repeated.

I watched as his car disappeared from sight.

Well, this is just awful.