Well my lovlies,
Christmastime is Bliss!
I can write!
I already had to split this one in half, and I am finishing the other half before xmas. Promise!
However, never get a job in retail if you don't like working seven days in a row. Bah Humbug to XMas time at the mall!
BUT! By not writing for a while I got through my first exams of university *bites all nails off entirely* and although I don't know my marks yet, I got an e-mail from my history t.a. saying that I "Dominated the history exam in a very impressive fashion." WOOOOOOOO GO MEEEE!
So merry christmas all. You'll see another one within a day or two.
Enjoy. Read. And be gracious and comment afterwards:D
- Stephanie
After finishing his entire explanation of the past several days, Jacob left Quil and Embry speechless. For a few moments, silence overtook the three boys. Embry sat down on a fallen tree trunk and Quil began to pace pessimistically, heads in different places. A few times, Jacob noticed Embry open his mouth as if he was about to say something, but it remained silent. Quil, out of anxiety, broke the tension the silence was creating.
"What happens now?"
"What do you mean?" Jacob asked, confused.
"What I mean is that they broke the treaty." Quil explained himself. "Doesn't this mean we have to…"
"We have to what? Fight them?" Jacob asked rashly. He knew they wouldn't stand a chance, as much as he would have hoped they could.
"Yeah." Quil spoke, "Tear 'em apart, burn the pieces, that whole deal?"
"We don't stand a chance against them." Jacob admitted solemnly. He knew it was true.
"Oh, come on. We have enough on them." Quil argued, embarrassed to admit they could be defeated.
"It wouldn't be that easy, Quil." Embry spoke for the first time; eyes still trained to nowhere, contemplating thought. "There would be very few of us strong enough to take them on. The younger guys would be slaughtered instantly; they wouldn't stand a chance." Quil starred at Embry disgusted. His brow furrowed as deep as it could go. It had been a while since Jacob had seen Quil so frustrated.
"I think we're underestimating them." Quil argued.
"Is it really worth the chance though?" Embry looked up at Quil. His fingers intertwined and his elbows rested on his knees. "To possibly lose one of our own to a worthless cause?" Quil knew he was right. The three sat in silence once again until Jacob reasonably proposed that they should head back to campus, as first period was just ending and Holly would be wondering where he is. He still felt uneasy about leaving her alone.
As they approached the gym, Jacob remembered that they were swimming that day. He waited outside the change room until the last possible minute. Embry came out and suggested that she had already gone inside. Jacob agreed and followed Embry back into the dressing room. Guys in suits were already heading to the pool. One thing the three boys felt smug about was the fact that, when shirtless, the ego of every guy in their gym class was shot as low as it could go. Each of them was blessed with glowing copper skin, although Embry was a touch lighter than Quil and Jacob. They all had a physique of a body builder, without looking ridiculous. Everything about them physically was dominant over the vast majority of the guys they were about to be swimming with. Carter and a few of the other rugby players kept themselves in pretty good shape. Unlike Jacob, Quil and Embry, however, they spent countless hours at the gym.
Jacob and Embry were of the last to enter the pool and Jacob felt himself growing anxious; not only to make sure Holly was alright, but a small side of him was excited to see her in a bathing suit, although he had already seen her in less than that. Just the thought sent chills up and down his spine. As soon as he became aware of his surrounds, Jacob realized that every girl in the pool was starring at the three of them. Not only starring, but in sheer awe of the god-like figures that were placed in front of them. Jacob did not even notice that they were all wearing skimpy, frilly, brightly-colored bikinis – he was looking for one body and one body only, however, she was no where to be seen. He looked past the hoard of people, to the bleachers and sure enough, Holly sat, fully dressed, with a gigantic smirk plastered across her face. Her expression made Jacob chuckle.
Holly, who had avoided swimming day number one all together, was waiting for the shallow reactions of the dense princesses that had gossiped in the change room about who they were most excited to see. She felt a tad guilty pretending to listen to her iPod in order to hear what Justine was going to say, but what she had heard, made it all worth it. Justine had to be assured by five members of her following that her breasts looked perky enough, thinking that she would, for sure, attract Jacob's attention. Holly made an effort to keep a tab on Justine once she took a seat on the bleachers and sure enough, as soon as Jacob sauntered into the pool wearing only a pair of swim shorts and a towel draped over his neck, Justine made extra sure she was in his field of vision at all times; on her best angle. It amused Holly to no end and it was comforting when he looked straight past her and met Holly's vision. Then when he pushed past Justine unknowingly, Holly felt all too sure of herself and was very close to being convinced into swimming the next day.
Although she found the girls in her class to be utterly superficial, Holly always found herself amazed at Jacob's physique. It was the dictionary definition of perfection. From the way his shoulders looked as if they could crush every bone in someone's body, to his thick biceps, down to his rough hands. His abdominals made her swoon; Holly couldn't even count how many sculpted curves there were, and the way his torso lead to prominent hip bones that lead Holly to think…
Within moments he was through the crowd and walking up the bleacher steps to where she sat.
"I think it's very considerate of you to remain clothed." Jacob joked sarcastically as he picked her up effortlessly and sat back down with her in his lap, "I'm sure we would have to have an ambulance present the moment you would walk out of the change room wearing a skimpy little thing. You would have sent every male in here into cardiac arrest." She strung her arms around his neck, trying to hide her blush.
"I think you almost gave Justine a brain hemorrhage when you walked in here." Holly countered, still trying to recover from her forbidden thoughts. "If what you said was true, however, how come I haven't had to rush you to emergency, or even give mouth to mouth." Holly burst out laughing at her own wit. Jacob boomed as well.
"That's because, unlike them," Jacob whispered coarsely into her ear, "I know it's all mine," and he traced his fingers around her lower back and squeezed her sides, "and I can touch it whenever I want." And with that said, he slid is burning hands up the back of her shirt, sending chills down her spine and covering her skin with goose bumps; not caring if anyone saw. Holly pressed herself closer to his warm body; something she hadn't quite experienced herself yet, the intense temperature. Jacob could feel her breath on his shoulder and neck which made him sigh; he loved nothing more than when she was this close to him, if not closer. His touch, however, only turned her mind back to what had bothered her since the night before. Jacob noticed her change in facial expression right away. "What's wrong?" He whispered worriedly, he knew that there was some underlying thing that she was trying to hide and he was not going to let it slide.
"I'll tell you later, after the bonfire? We'll talk." Holly assured Jacob with a smile. He nodded his head and pushed her hair out of her face.
"Kay." He would take that; it was better than having to pry it out of her. In that precise moment, his gym teacher called him down from his supposed 'canoodling' on the benches. He lifted Holly back up and set her gingerly on the bench again and hopped down, pausing only to say one last thing to Holly. "I think I'll pretend to be unconscious next time; the mouth to mouth sounds rejuvenating." Making Holly burst out laughing again and making Jacob happy; at least she wasn't going to wallow in whatever was bothering her forever.
They were assigned to swim laps and at the end of the class, Jacob, Embry, Quil and Carter proposed a race between the four of them after dominating at the four-man relay. Jacob floored them all, much to his surprise because Embry was a much better swimmer than he was. After listening to their gym teacher flutter on about how they made 'Olympic-worthy' strides, the four of them went back into the change room.
The remainder of the day was seemingly uneventful. Holly seemed to push aside what had been bothering her and spent the rest of the day smiling. She fell asleep on Jacob's shoulder in English while watching 'My Fair Lady' since she had seen it a million and one times before. Jacob even met her at her class at the end of the day and walked her to the locker.
"So are you going to come with us tonight?" Jacob asked as Holly dressed herself to bear the bitter cold that had overtaken La Push.
"Yes. I'd like it if you would carry me as well." Holly said as she wrapped her scarf tightly around her neck.
"Done." Holly weighed next to nothing to Jacob. Holly gave him a surprised look.
"I was only joking." And with that, she laughed.
"Oh know, just you watch, I will carry you the whole way." Jacob bet.
Holly ended up driving Jacob and herself to his house where they fell asleep on the couch in the family room waiting to be told they that they were leaving. Just as the sun finished setting Billy, who had remained relatively quiet as the two slept on the couch, shouted, "We're flying the coop." adding 'home dogs' at the end of the statement, making Holly giggle groggily.
"You can go back to sleep, I'll carry you." Jacob instructed her as he lifted her off the couch in his arms, as if she were a baby. She couldn't object because his grasp was so comfortable and warm. He even went so far as to wrap the sheepskin that was draped over the couch around her even though she was boiling in his arms. Holly felt them leave the house, not even noticing how cold it was in Jacob's arms, and get into Billy's truck, but that was all she remembered before she was fast asleep against Jacob's chest once again.
Holly woke to Jacob shaking her lightly. She felt the sheepskin wrapped around both of them and the warmth of his skin made it all to comfortable. "You drooled on my shirt." Jacob joked. Holly opened her eyes a bit only to see a small wet spot on his shirt where she had rested her face.
"That's a little embarrassing." Holly laughed, sitting up as much as he would let her. Red, orange and black filled her vision once she realized she was sitting in front of the already roaring bonfire. Billy was sitting in his wheelchair in between Jacob's friend Sam and an ancient-looking man. Sitting next to him was Quil and Embry and on the other side of Sam sat Jacob's other friends Paul and Jared. Kim was curled up next to Jared who held her firmly, much like how Holly was sitting. Leah and her little brother, who Holly could not put a name to, was sitting on either side of an older women with laugh lines and a bright face. Sitting beside Embry was a woman with waist-length brown hair, cradling twin boys in her arms. Emily was sitting beside Leah with a little girl, with tight black curls, cradled in her arms. All the women had blankets wrapped around their shoulders with the exception of Leah and it took Holly a minute to notice that three more figures emerged from the forest that had surrounded them. It was the same place that Holly had met Jacob. Within moments, Holly realized that it was her grandparents and mother who had approached. They took a seat next to Holly and Jacob and her mom kissed her forehead. "Get ready for a story, babe."
Only moments passed until Billy began to speak. He seemed to call everyone's attention within seconds.
"For centuries, our people have resided on this reserve. La Push is a part of what we are, it's in our blood, and we are here to preserve and protect the beauty and magic that rests throughout these forests and in the waters of our land." He looked directly at Holly and smiled. She was entranced by the flow of his speech, his magical voice, and his dancing hands as he began to tell the story Holly had waited so long to hear.
He began with the story of the early Quileute ancestors and how they discovered they could embody the wolves that flocked to their lands. The story seemed so beautiful and magical until Billy let the old man, Jacob had explained that he was Old Quil Ateara, Quil's grandfather, speak.
"We lived in peace, in harmony with the tribes around us, and in love with our lives, our land and our people. Happiness and perfection can never last, however." Holly's was entranced with Old Quil as well; such a thick voice bleeding out of such a frail old man was breathtaking. "Quileute's were content until the arrival of the cold one. Once his kind was exposed to our people, our lives changed." As soon as the phrase 'cold one' was let out of Old Quil's mouth, Holly gasped. Everything clicked into place; it was as if her entire life suddenly had an explanation. Holly continued to listen to what was being told, as was everyone else. Jacob's face was trained on Old Quil the whole time, he seemed just as enchanted as she was even though she was sure he had heard the stories a million times. Old Quil went onto the legend of the first wife; sending chills down her spine. Once they were finished with the legends Holly found herself staring aimlessly into the dancing flickers of the flames.
"Now there are a few more things on the agenda tonight folks." Billy spoke once the crowd had settled from hearing the captivating legends. "First of all, a very significant event happened several days ago that I would like to bring to the attention of the tribe. Sam, would you?" For the first time that night, Sam stood up in front of the tribe and spoke with some authority in his tone.
"First of all, I would like to announce that another protector has emerged into our circle. Holly Juturna," when he announced her name she felt everyone's eyes trail to her, "phased for the first time, several days ago." Anxious for a moment, Holly wondered what everyone's reactions would be but was relieved when most smiled; some nodded their heads. "I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the Juturna family back into the tribe after decades of being apart. It is very comforting to have you back as a part of our family and I would like to invite Gordon to take his rightful spot in the line of 'elders' have you will." Sam motioned for Gordon to stand between Billy and himself. Gordon, a tad apprehensive, nodded and stood up, taking his spot in the line.
"It's good to be back." And for the first time Holly could remember, her grandfather smiled genuinely.
"Now for the next item on the agenda," Billy moved on, "As most of you are aware, the reason our Holly phased was due to a visit from someone who was formerly not welcomed on our lands. Bella Swan, my very good friend Charlie's daughter, was changed, much to our anticipation, by one of the Cullens." Everyone seemed to shift in his or her spots; they all looked very edgy.
"I thought that meant we were supposed to attack. They broke the entire treaty. A human was changed and then it came onto the reserve." Paul spoke from his seat.
"This is where an executive decision needs to be made." Billy began calmly, "If they were to have changed one of our own, we would have had no choice but to strike against them, but from what I understand, it was Bella's choice to be changed. Jacob can vouch for her decision." Holly looked immediately up at Jacob who was glaring into the fire as if he did not want to be a part of the conversation. "Jake?" He remained silent and looked Holly straight in the eye; pain flooded his expression.
"It's true." Jacob mumbled, not looking at anyone but Holly. Everyone was speechless.
"So, it's settled." Gordon broke the silence for the first time. "If I may, I don't see why we should pose the risk. This could backfire and everyone on this reserve would suffer." Holly was grateful for her grandfather's comment as it released a bit of the tension that had built up from what Jacob had said. He was back focused on the fire when everyone agreed with Gordon's insight and began talking amongst themselves for a second.
"Jacob?" Sam called from across the fire, "Can you come here for a second?" Jacob nodded his head and kissed Holly on the forehead just before placing her gently on the log. Leah slid down to where Holly was sitting to keep her company.
"I'm sure you're just filled with questions." Leah exclaimed. Holly smiled and laughed a bit.
"A bit of an understatement, but yes." Holly answered.
"Well, shoot, I bet I can answer a few." Leah offered, picking up a small stick off the ground by her feet.
"There is one question that I have for you in particular," Holly began, "I'm not sure I can ask Jacob. I need someone else's perspective."
"Go for it. Although, I am sure I know what it's regarding." Leah said, looking Holly in the eye.
"Bella; I need an explanation." Holly asked. Leah sighed.
"That monster tore that poor kids heart out and beat it to death with his nerves still attached, to say the least." Leah stated, making Holly cringe. "She moved here a few years ago to live with her father, Charlie, and she met one of the Cullen boys; one of the family of bloodsuckers from the legends – they're immortal, that's why they're still around. They actually left during our great-grandparents generation and came back when we were maybe thirteen. That's why we've all made the change, because of their reappearance. No one of our parents generation phased, just us. Anyways, Bella and Edward 'fell in love,' so to speak and then he ended up leaving her. Jacob stepped in and basically put her back together. Long story short, Edward came back and it was as if Jacob was back to being second. Once they had been back for a while, a sadistic vampire named Victoria created an army of newborn vampires and came after Edward for killing her mate. Nonetheless, they enlisted in our help and after almost getting him killed, Bella came one day to tell Jacob that she was leaving with Edward; and he knew what that meant. She had made the decision to be changed."
"From your perspective, how much did he love her?" Holly asked after a moment of silence.
"A lot; a few of us actually thought he might have imprinted on her. When he let her go though, we knew it couldn't be true." Leah answered.
"Imprinted?" Holly was confused at the term. Leah looked at her shocked, with a tinge of guilt in her expression. It was as if she wished she didn't say anything.
"That's something Jake needs to explain to you." Leah corrected herself, "Besides, even if he did love her after that, it wouldn't have mattered once you showed up."
"What do you mean, Leah?" Holly asked, still looking for answers.
"Again, something you need to ask Jacob." Leah fought the urge to tell her the truth.
Once Jacob came back to sit with Holly, people began to disperse from the bonfire and head home for the night.
"Do you want to get going?" Jacob asked Holly, who had been cradled in his lap since he got back from talking with the elders. "There is some stuff we should probably talk about."
"Sure." Holly agreed. After they said their goodbyes and once Holly told Fran she was spending the night out, Jacob carried her into the forest.
"Hold on tight." Jacob warned, and before Holly could ask why, she was flying through the air on the back of a seven-foot tall, russet colored wolf. Within minutes they arrived back at Jacob's house and he phased back into his normal self. Once they were inside, Jacob tucked Holly under the covers of his bed and climbed in beside her. Holly couldn't wait any longer to ask,
"What's imprinting?" Jacob was caught off guard.
"Who said anything about that?" He asked, playing with a piece of her hair.
"Leah mentioned it when I asked her about you and Bella. She said that everyone wondered if you had imprinted on her, but they were wrong, and that once I showed up it wouldn't have mattered if you loved her." Holly sat up in a frazzled state, confusion overtaking her thoughts. "I need answers Jake. Don't sugarcoat anything." Jacob sighed heavily and began to explain,
"Imprinting occurs in those who have made the change and it's very hard to understand. When it occurs, it's as if you only see one person and that one person becomes your everything. It could be someone who you have never met, it could be someone you've spent your entire life hating; it could be anyone. Although, I have never seen someone imprint on someone of the same sex." Jacob chuckled. Holly remained confused. "Look at Sam and Emily for instance. Sam was actually in love with Leah before he knew Emily. He was head over heels for her and everyone thought that he was going to marry Leah, but when he made the change for the first time; everything changed. He was the first so none of us knew, or could know, what was going on. Sam had disappeared for weeks and when he came back my Dad finally noticed what had happened. Not long after my Dad noticed how much he had changed, he realized what had happened to Sam. When he did, he took him to Old Quil and they explained what had happened. Sam's change put a lot of stress on their relationship because Leah had no idea, and couldn't know, what had happened to him. Then, one day, when Emily, who is actually Leah's cousin, came down from the Makah reserve to visit, Sam's world was turned upside down. He ended up imprinting on Emily as soon as he saw her and it was as if Leah didn't even exist. That's why Leah gets bitter every time she sees them together. It's as if you find your soul mate? Although much more intense than just being in love with someone. You see the person one day, and BOOM you would drop anything for them."
Holly felt her heart rate increase rapidly, "Who else has imprinted?"
"Jared on Kim; she sat beside him in math every day and he didn't take two looks at her until after he had made the change. His first day back at school after, as soon as he saw her, it was as if his entire world became about her. Quil has as well."
"Quil? Really? I've never seen him with anyone before though." Holly questioned in amazement.
"Here's where most people get a little freaked out." Jacob explained, "Did you see the little girl sitting on Emily's lap? The one with the tight black curls? That's her niece Clare, that's who Quil has imprinted on."
"What?" Jacob was right; Holly was freaked out.
"Let me explain!" You see, she is Quil's everything. Right now, he is like the best big brother someone could ask for. He takes her out, he plays with her, he buys her stuff, and he makes sure she is safe one hundred percent of the time – anything she will ask him to do, he will do it. He will be anything she wants him to be. When she gets older, who knows what will happen – I mean, it's not like we age, so it won't be creepy, but right now he is her best friend."
"But, there are some that fall in love with their imprints?" Holly questioned, she grew more and more curious.
"More often than not." Jacob continued to explain. "I mean, just look at Jared and Kim. They're crazy about each other." That made Holly's mind wander. Jacob was right; they adored each other. They were always together, Jared was super protective of Kim, and they were attached at the hip at school; just like Holly around Jacob. Then Holly made the biggest realization of all.
"Is there anyone else?" Holly pried cautiously; hoping she would receive the answer she was searching for.
"You mean in the pack?" Jacob had a good feeling he knew what she was talking bout; he just had to be sure.
"Yeah." Holly braced herself for the answer.
"Well, Embry hasn't and neither has Paul or Seth or any of the younger ones for that matter. Leah definitely hasn't; the day that will happen I will be the happiest person alive. I'll stop having to hear her think about Sam." Jacob spoke, dodging the question. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why he was so anxious about telling her.
"Well… there is one more person you have not told me whether or not they have or not." Holly bit her lip, hoping this time he would get the message.
"I spent my entire summer, by myself, wallowing in self-pity; feeling like I had lost the one person that had meant anything to me." Jacob took in a big breath and exhaled. "But the first day I ventured out past my garage, I met a girl who took my breath away and when she left, you see, I couldn't stop thinking about her. So that's when I went to her place, and watched her from in the trees. It sounds weird, but I felt a strange urge to make sure she was okay, and I didn't leave until she was safely inside. That was the first night I didn't have a nightmare about who I had a lost; I dreamt of the girl I had found." Holly leant over and placed her forehead on Jacob's chest, not wanting him to catch her blush. "The next night I had went out to another party, but she wasn't there and I found myself growing worried. So, once again, I went and watched her from the trees to make sure she was okay. The moment I saw her that night, I knew that everything I thought I had for this girl was intensified more than I had anticipated; she became everything in that infinitesimal moment." Jacob pulled Holly's face to his and just before he could say one more thing, she beat him to it,
"I love you, Jacob Black."
"I love you too, Holly Juturna." Jacob responded; a wider smile couldn't possibly fit on his face, he thought, but Holly knew she was about to defy all odds when it came to how big a smile could be.
"Well, I spent most of my summer, packing my life up and moving to the single most dismal place on earth. Then, on one of my first outings, I met this amazing person that gave me faith in humanity again. I was never a people person; I was always much more content just being by myself, but he defied all my previous conceptions. I found myself restless when he wasn't there and there was nothing I wanted more than to spend ninety-nine point nine percent of my time with him. Then this mind-blowing thing happened; I found out that I was a descendant of this apparently not fictitious species and that I could phase into this intense wolf-like formation. Turns out, he's a freak too. When I saw him after I phased for the first time, I realized that he was the single, most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my entire life; and that is significant because I had never seen someone so good-looking before I had phased. I knew at that point…" Jacob looked at Holly with an expression on his face that only be translated into one thing; he had not expected anything that had, or was about to, come out of her mouth. "That there was no other person out there that I would love more; he became everything in that infinitesimal moment." Stealing his exact words and living up to her expectations; the smile on Jacob's face looked as if it was extruding from his cheeks and make his face explode. Within seconds he had tackled her; both had remained speechless at their realization; that they were going to be together for the rest of their lives.