NOTE: Jacob returns! Ness begins to feel something toward Jacob. Yay!

Enjoy oh I own nothing! Except the plot…

CHAPTER 21 -Safe-

Strolling along the greenery and the soaring trees, I thought of the reasons I had a panic attack. Was it because I was suppressing all my distress about Jake? Or just other confined anger? School, family, my future or that stupid blonde that had threatened me when I was little, then they followed me to Alaska. It must have been all of those combined but Where was he? Why didn't he call? For the past couple of days I was so disturbed about his absence. It was almost as if I didn't function properly. I had Jake withdrawls when I moved to Alaska but this, this was ridiculous, ten times worse. Worry about him missing so much, I almost forgot why I was feeling glum before he disappeared.

Wondering along the thin dirt trail, there was a sense of aloneness that crept back up. A giant collapsed tree had landed to the ground not too long ago. I remembered a week ago it wasn't here. I sat upon the tree, examining the bark. It must have been miserable to be this tree that had fallen so far from its former glory. Before the fall, it must have been happy or at least content with things. Then one day it changed, all of a sudden the other trees and surroundings weren't the same, they weren't comfortable or even hopeful. SO, the tree let time pass day by day occasionally being satisfied with the moment but in an instant it came back, like a boomerang. It was a reaction like a rubber band. The rubber can only be stretched out so far until it snapped. Recently, I had felt the same way, so I know exactly the poor tree felt. Well maybe not but I felt this way, we all know the tree didn't really have any emotions but I did.

Normality wasn't in my vocabulary. Nothing about me was normal. Nothing about my family was normal, with the exception of Sue and Charlie. Nothing about my friends were normal. NOTHING about life was normal. I was not human nor vampire, I was always stuck in the middle. I tried hard to be human but there was no use, I'm not human. I felt lonely as that tree stood and just like it fell, I flipped, my emotions caught up with me in the form of a panic attack and worrying about Jacob didn't help either.

A slight noise came from behind me. Twigs snapped, leaves rustled. Also, a slight growl was lingering behind me. Should I be afraid, excited or angry? I turned around to see what awaited behind me. Suddenly a flash of light brown flew at my face and I was knocked off the tree. My back collided with the ground barely missing a rock that lay next to my head. I was licked in the face over and over again. Eww gross.

I threw the large wolf of me and sat up in a sitting position. A slight wimper escaped the dog's mouth. Slowly, he sat next to me, nudging me. In attempts to ignore him I tuned the other way, he bite me and in defense, I hit him on the nose. He whimpered again running behind some trees. Then out came Jacob. He came back, I could see him rubbing his nose.

"Geez, what was that for?" he said as he sat next to me. Immediately I stood up and sat back upon the tree he had rudely knocked me off of.

"Ness?" he spoke softly and cautiously, "Are you mad?" Then he sat next to me. I positioned my back towards him."Ness? Talk to me." Then reluctantly turned and faced him.

"Where the hell were you?" I exclaimed.

"Leahs."

"Leahs?"

When I asked, I pictured him imprinting on Leah, that's where he must have been? Embry said that person becomes the center of their universe, which is why he must have ditched me, without so much as a call. It's been a while since I've never been away from him for longer than a day, but three? Something was up. I guess that's alright as long as he's happy. It makes sense for him to be with his own kind. Now, all I needed to do was find someone like me. Which was going to be difficult.

It was also going to be hard to let Jake go. My best friend in the entire world, practically my only friend in the entire world was going to be with another woman. Three days or two and half days away from him was just too long. If he and Leah get married it could be longer. But Leah hates me. Since I was born she has always showed a repulsion toward me. My mind whirled around the thought of the future. A future where Jake wasn't there. Just Like when we moved to Alaska.

Would he call? Though, he didn't call when we were supposed to meet me at my house and the three days after that.

"And you couldn't call?" I bellowed.

"I couldn't, I was incapable."

"What?"

"How-about we go to lunch?"

"Why would I want lunch? It's nine in the morning."

"Ness, it's past noon."

I took out my cell that read, 2:34pm, "Crap." I said falling back hitting my head on the tree. Have I really been wandering around the forest since, this morning.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go." He helped me down.

We walked back to my house and grabbed my grandpa's Mercedes that he so generously let Jacob borrow constantly. He drove for about five minutes before I spoke to him. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

A low muffled annoyed reply escaped my lips, "Whatever." My head throbbed in pain, as I rubbed it.

With concern Jake reached over rubbing my head for me. "Your head okay?"

Allowing him to rub my head, no response passed between my teeth. He still owed me an apology for disappearing for two and half days.

"You're tuff, I know you're fine." He answered for me as his sizable hands ruffled my hair. I swatted his hand away, not looking at him. Anger still boiled inside the pit of my stomach but the relief he is safe calmed it. I had a tough night the last couple of nights, sleep didn't come easily with me worrying about him. I caught up most of it yesterday but for some reason I still felt tired and I slowly drifted off to sleep.

A sudden wave of heat crossed my face, that made me wake up from my slumber. It was night fall now. I looked out the window, we were on not so busy street waiting at a stop light. With all rain droplets collected on the front wind shield, I could hardly see through it with the exception of a passing car. Gosh, Where the heck am I? Blinking a few times helped my vision a little. To my left Jacob sat at the passenger seat. He looked over smiling my smile.

"Hey sleeping beauty, you're finally up. I've been waiting."

"Where are we?"

"Seattle."

"What! Jake, do my parents know where I am?" With no thought I picked up my phone to call my parents. Dialing, a sudden warmth touched my hand, softly pushing my hand down. I tried dialing again, then my phone was grabbed out of my hand.

"Calm down, I told them before we left." He smiled at me, "It's not like you have a curfew."

"What are we doing in Seattle?"

"Well, we're still in town."

"Oh," I sighed a relief, "where?"

"Forks."

"What time is it?"

"Six. I drove to La push first for some canoeing but when we got there you were sleeping, so I waited. When it started raining, I decided to drive back here."

"So, you've been waiting for me to wake up?"

"Yeah."

"You're so stupid. You shoulda just woke me up, it's been three hours."

"I know that, Carlisle said you'd be exhausted though. I just thought I'd let you sleep."

I let out a sigh, so he clearly understood my peeved attitude. I still am upset with him. Not paying much attention to anything we parked on what seemed to be a deserted street. He turned and positioned his hand the seat of my car completely turning his body, until his shoulders were angled in my direction.

"Mad at me?"

"Yeah."

"I don't think you'll be after this."

"Are you going to apologize sometime?"

"That's what I'm doing." He answered leaping out of my car. This apology sucks. My arms were crossed in front of my chest and yes, I was throwing a temper tantrum. He came to my side and opened the car door. A cool breeze entered the warm car and I shivered a bit. "Come on." He said cooly placing his hand on the hood of the car leaning over me.

"No." I whined turning my head in the opposite direction of him. "I'm not going anywhere until you say sorry."

"Are you really, throwing a fit like a two year old?" My hand was placed on the handle of the door and I tried to shut the car door with all my might. He pulled it back with such ease. Despite having super human strength Jacob was much stronger than I. He kneeled down between the car door and me. He was at my eye level, I spun once again looking in the reverse direction of him. A soft heated feeling touched my chin, his hand had turned my face towards his. I just rolled my eyes up studying the top of the roof of the car, if I rolled my eyes any further up, I'm sure they would roll into the back of my head.

While I still looked at the leather roof of the Mercedes, slowly he moved the hand that rested beneath my chin to my cheek and his other found the opposite side of my face. Now, his hands were strategically placed on each side of my face, forcing me to gaze directly at him. His light brown eyes met mine, warm and smooth, the color reminded me of milk chocolate. Still locked into his stare and before he said a word, I already forgiven him.

"Come on I'm sorry." He pleaded with both of his palms still firmly pressed to my cheeks. The way he touched me sent waves of heat throughout my body. And now that I think of it, he's always had that effect on me.

Unhurriedly, I looked at him pressing my brows into a furrow. His did the same except he was sorry and worried about me. How come every time he made that face, I always felt…satisfied and happy?

My thoughts were bouncing around my brain, the thought of him missing, the thought of him missing the thought of him dead. But he was here in front of me safe and sound but those thoughts were still in my mind and they scram louder and louder. He was so close to me I'm surprised he couldn't hear them. I about broke down and cried right then and there. I pushed my forehead against his and rested it there for a few seconds. Hopefully, his warmth would calm me down like it always does. His breathing was speeding as was mine. This was working I was able to pull myself together. As I sucked in one large breath, I pulled my forehead away.

"I wasn't throwing a fit like a two year old." I paused pretending to be angry, " I was throwing a fit like a nine year old. "

We both smirked at each other before he helped me out of the car. When he offered a hand to help me out, I placed my thoughts in his mind. He was now, going to know all the anxiety he put me through.

Dark orange, navy, purple and black swirled through my vision. I hoped he knew how betrayed I felt and how worried I was. Seeing him dead on the side of the road, in both human and wolf form. The Volturi attacking him, tearing every limb from his husky body. Following that gruesome vision, I manifested myself standing at his casket after the funeral. When he snapped out of the vision I had just shown him. He shut the car door and looked down at me.

"I was terrified." I admitted.

Remorse and angst was his expression. The unease and concern I had for him appeared next to nothing compared to the illustration on his face.

He pulled me into a tight hug, I fastened my arms around him. The feeling of comfort replaced any left over anger and distress left my body. He was safe and that's all that mattered.

"I'm so sorry, I worried you." His head was now resting on mine. He hugged wrapping his warm arms around my waist. We stood there for a good five minutes. Nuzzling my head to his chest, I could her a low groan his chest. Which always let me know he was at in this moment.

Then his stomach growled.

"Come on let's eat." Of course food would ruin this beautiful moment we were having, food always did.

CHAPTER 22 Preview.

"You're so stubborn."

"We have that both in common, " I laughed, " Since being in Forks, I have seen you at least every day. Then you disappeared for three days. Now what happened?"

"There were a vampires on Quilete land."

"Oh, again? Jake, it's probably just my family you guys don't need to freak out. Or was it a nomad? Or?" The Volturi are back?

"No, we know your families scent. There we're five of them."

"Five?" I wondered placing my hand up stretching my fingers out. Each finger represented a vampire.

"We chased them from La Push all the way to Olympia National Park. We had them surrounded and we killed one of them. "

The Volturi? Why are they here? No doubt, Jane was here.

Without even thinking I asked, "Was there a blonde?"

Sitting up straight, he ogled me almost with disbelief. "Yeah," He subtly titled his head to the side," how'd you know?"