Chapter Twenty-One

My jaw dropped. "You... imprinted? On who?" I asked, gasping. I hadn't been expecting this- not at all, not now. Jacob always kept to himself, only speaking to a stranger when spoken to, and being very low key about everything going around him. I thought about how Sam would react to this news, wondering if he would take it as good or bad.

"Who was that girl that was with you... ?" Jacob asked timidly, turning his face away from me to hide his blush.

I gasped. "Maddison?! The little girl?!"

Jacob's eyes went wide. "No, no, no, not her. Who was with her?"

I sighed. "Her mother, Alyssa. She's my tutor while I stay in Forks."

He sighed, his eyes lowering. "Alyssa...that's a pretty name."

I gasped again. "You imprinted on my friend? Jacob, what were you thinking?!"

"I can't help it, Bella. It just happened, and I don't know how to control it." I could hear the concern in his voice as he said this.

"Well, what do you do now?" I asked, concern in my own voice now. Jacob shrugged.

"I don't know, really. I mean, there must be something I could do…"

I sighed. "Let's just go back out there, and try to act like everything is normal. Don't speak too much, or say anything stupid."

Jacob nodded. "Got it,"

We turned to walk back to the cafeteria, an awkward silence traveling with us. It was weird to think of Jacob and Alyssa even being friends, and now, the fact that Jacob had imprinted on her meant that they would have to spend more time together whether she liked it or not.

We arrived back in the cafeteria moments later to see Alyssa still sitting on the same table, feeding Maddison a bottle. I smiled at the sight and put my hand on my ballooned stomach. We quickly took a seat at the table –me sitting as close to Alyssa as possible, and Jacob sitting the farthest away.

"This little one sure can eat," I commented. Alyssa chuckled and wiped Madison's face with a cloth. Maddison giggled at her mother, and I smiled.

"She does eat a lot, but she's a baby, she's suppose to," Alyssa laughed.

"She's a very pretty baby you got, Alyssa," Jacob commented. He still looked tense; his back was straight up against the hard chair, his hands dripping the ends of the table to the point where his fingers where turning white. His lips didn't look like they were moving, but it was obvious that he was one speaking.

Alyssa blushed. "She is, isn't she? I'm a very lucky girl. Thanks, Jacob."

Jacob turned away from Alyssa and to me, whispering, "I'm going to leave now, Bella."

"Okay, well, I guess we can leave now."

He shook his head. "No, it's okay. You should stay here with Alyssa. I'll call Embry or Quil to pick me up."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Positive."

Alyssa turned towards us. "Is everything okay?" she asked.

Jacob nodded, tense still. "Yes, everything is fine. I'm just going to leave now."

Alyssa smiled. "Well, Jacob, it was nice to meet you."

He nodded. "Likewise, bye."

I didn't even have enough time to blink before I saw Jacob stand up, and rush towards the exit. He moved so quickly, so fast, that my head spun just trying to follow him with my eyes. But, once I knew he was safely outside, I turned back to Alyssa, and smiled. She smiled back, and rubbed Madison's back.

"Maybe we should head back to my house for tutoring now?" I asked Alyssa.

She nodded. "Can I get a ride with you? We got a taxi up here, so maybe it would be better if we drive home with you."

I nodded. "Of course. Charlie bought be a car seat for the baby, so Maddison is taken care of. Let's go."

We walked out of the busy mall, and into the parking lot. After a few minutes of trying to buckle Maddison into the confusing seat belt, we were headed in the direction of Forks.

We didn't talk much on the way, just make little comments here and there. I was mostly thinking about Jacob, and how he must feel. I couldn't think of what he might be thinking right now, but he must be a little scared. I mean, it's Jacob, for crying out loud! My best friend here in Forks, and now, the attention would be diverted to someone else. I didn't know if it was jealousy that was creeping up to me, but something deep down inside me told me it was.

I decided to keep quiet until we got back to Charlie's house.

--

We arrived at the house a little while later after dropping Maddison off at Alyssa's mother house just a few blocks away from Charlie's. Denise, Alyssa's mother, took Maddison with ease, as if she was one of her own, an carried her swiftly inside after placing a kiss on Alyssa on the forehead. We left quickly, then, realizing we had taken more time than nessacasary, and drove to Charlie's.

I opened the door to Charlie's house and was automatically met my the smell of cheese, bread, and meat. I realized Charlie had made a pizza, and he was sitting at the dining room table. I smiled at him gracefully.

"Hey, dad," I said relaxed. Charlie smiled up at me, a warm, pretty smile and I felt guilty for having to leave him soon.

"Sorry I didn't wait for you to come home. I got hungry. But you and Alyssa are welcome to some, if you like."

I looked at Alyssa, and she shook her head politely. "No thanks, dad. We're just going to head upstairs to do some homework."

Charlie nodded and I took Alyssa's hand and went upstairs to my room. I went to my desk and took out the required books, and then went back to my bed and sat down. Alyssa was already there, the pencils from my pencil case scattered everywhere. Alyssa looked puzzled as she held a non-sharpened pencil in her hand.

"I can't find the sharpener."

I laughed at her, and then handed her the sharpener from across the bed. She took it out of my hand, and quickly sharpened the pencil.

Alyssa was tall, well, taller than me, at least. Her hair was a dark auburn color, not really brown or orange, just a very pretty mix of both. Her eyes were bright green with a rim of grey around the edges. She wore fairly nice clothes, nothing like Rosalie or Alice wore, but I was fairly jealous of some of the t- shirt she had at her house.

"Let's get started, " I mumbled, grabbing myself a pencil and starting to write.

Work lasted for about two hours; time passed quickly this time, unlike most times when I felt that the minute hand didn't move at all. Alyssa had explained some simple math and English to me, along with some history -stuff I already knew from my days at the library. I had packed up the books quickly, eager to get things out of my way so I could lay down.

"Want to watch some TV?" I asked casually, grabbing the remote from my side table. Alyssa nodded in response as I turned the show on. It was a soap opera, so I didn't really pay too much attention. At least Alyssa seemed to enjoy.

I decided to ask a question, my curiosity overcoming me. "So, what do you think of Jacob? He's a nice boy, isn't he?"

Alyssa smiled. "He's really nice, actually, and sort of cute too."

I laughed. "Totally."

Alyssa frowned. "Too bad he's younger than me."

I laughed. "Age isn't everything, you know. It's the... connection. Who knows, maybe you guy's will have a thing later on."

She blushed. "Right..."

I flicked my attention back to the TV screen, faintly aware of what was going on in this scene. I hadn't watched much TV lately -if any at all. I had put my attention to something more important.

Soon after though, Alyssa had to leave. I watched from the door as her mother picked her up, a sad feeling washing over me when she left. Alyssa was all the company I had here since Jacob and Charlie, and both of them didn't really know what I was going through. It was nice to have someone to lean on, and tell my problems to. Knowing she had to same problems gave me comfort.

I sighed, and -after a quick goodbye to Charlie- went upstairs to bed.

--

A/N- Short? Yes. Crappy? Yes. Boring? Yes. Useless? Yes. I am so sorry for the -how should I say this- total crappiness of this chapter. It's late; I'm tired and thirsty and I want to go to sleep. Maybe that's the reason why this chapter is so bad? Probably.

But, maybe if you review I'll feel better?

Also, I am so sorry for all the canon (characters that aren't in Stephenie's book) characters, I know some of you are getting tired of them and all that. I am sorry, but I feel like if I add some of my own people, it will make this story more my own? If that makes sense. But, like I said, it's late, so If I sound like I'm rambling, it's because I can't tell which way is up, and which was is down.

I'm sorry.

Please, rate and review, despite the badness of this chapter.