"Congrats!" Jamie cheered when Bella met up with them outside the gym. He pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tight to convey just how proud he was of her. "You've survived high school! Next ring of hell: college!"
"Congratulations, Bella," Jaeyeon told her quietly, hesitantly reaching out to squeeze her hand. "I heard you're going to Dartmouth in the fall. That's amazing!"
"Thank you." Bella squeezed her hand back, smiling at the younger girl. She seemed so sweet; it was a shame they hadn't met earlier. From what she'd heard around school, Jaeyeon could really use a friend. "Thank you for coming and, uh, helping me get ready. Alice really approved."
"Oh, that was nothing. Just the right thing to do."
"The Cullens are throwing a party at their house tonight. You and Jamie are obviously invited. I'd love for you both to come."
"Uh, I dunno," Jaeyeon started, looking around her nervously. There would be a lot of students there, and she got enough of them at school. She didn't exactly feel like being around them when they were drunk. "I'm a little young, and I don't really know anybody."
"I'll look out for you," Jamie assured her. "We'll definitely come, Bells. Gives me another excuse to use the new arsenal of dresses I bought for Jaeyeon."
She groaned, pressing her face into his arm and wiggling about in frustration. Jamie just watched in amusement as she acted cute, trying to butter him up so he wouldn't force her into more cutesy clothes.
"Jamie~" she whined like a child. "I don't wanna wear those clothes. Can't I just wear my own things?"
"Nope. Now let's get going, pipsqueak. We don't have much time to get ready for the party." He waved to Bella as he dragged her away. "Catch you later, Bells!"
Jamie gazed proudly at his beautiful creation, pointedly ignoring the fact that said creation was glaring at him hard enough to murder. Jaeyeon was dressed up nicely in a sleeveless purple dress, accented cutely by an adorable ribbon that was keeping her hair up. All that was left to do was her makeup, and he wasn't sure if they had enough to completely cover her marks. He reluctantly started anyway, beginning to work on her face.
"You better have a damn good reason for having these pop up. You're usually so careful about this, Jaeyeon! Honestly, what were you thinking?"
"I was helping Bella. She's got a vengeful vampire after her. And this vampire just so happens to have an army of Turned to back her up."
"What? Bella has a vampire after her? A Turned army after her? How? Why? I don't understand."
"Your vision was always awful, Jamie. I had hoped it would get better with age, but apparently not. The cullens are vampires."
"What?" The mirror shattered from beside them, causing Jaeyeon to glare at him. "Bella's hanging around vampires? What the hell is she thinking?"
"They don't feed from humans."
"So? That's still completely suicidal!"
"They protect her." Jamie gave her a disbelieving look. "Don't look at me like that! I'm looking after her! With all my history with vampires, especially vampires with humans, do you really think I would be okay with an innocent human rubbing shoulders with them? They're in control of their thirst."
"It's still probably their fault that she's being targeted! Honestly, who is human in this damned town? It's like all of Washington is forsaken by Nature!"
"Calm down, would you? Don't you trust me?" He sighed and nodded, knowing Bella was safest with Jaeyeon keeping an eye on her. "They'll probably come up with a plan tonight once Alice breaks the news to the rest of them."
"That means we need to get in on that meeting."
"Looks like this party isn't too bad of an idea after all."
"You jinxed it. You fucking jinxed it!" Jamie snapped at Jaeyeon when he saw a familiar trio of teenage boys towering over the crowd. Panicking, he quickly ducked behind her, causing the people around them to look at them oddly. It was pretty weird; a man clocking in at over six feet cowering behind a girl who didn't even reach five was quite the sight. "We still have time to make a run for it!"
"Yeah, no we don't." She grinned as she waved to Quil and Jake, ignoring the disgruntled look on Embry's face. "They're coming this way."
"Because you waved them over! You are an awful friend, you know that?" He placed his hands on her shoulders and pressed down, causing her to cry out in shock. "You know, you shouldn't like them. What with your experience and all, you should be the one freaking out."
"Right, so can you see how ridiculous you look? If I'm not freaking out, then you should definitely not be freaking out. So you can stop now!"
"Um, no. No I cannot. Man, I'm gonna puke!"
"Aren't you a little too young to be at this sort of party?" Quil teased Jaeyeon when they finally reached her. "No middle-schoolers allowed, squirt."
"Hilarious. I just so happen to be personally invited by Bella herself. So suck it."
"Better watch your language, missy," he warned playfully before tugging her into a gentle headlock. "You gotta learn how to respect your elders."
"Alright, leave her alone," Jake told him, managing to pry her out of his grasp and wrapping an arm around her. "But really, I don't think you being here is a good idea, Jae." He eyed all the guys who were looking at her, the same guys who would mistreat her on a daily basis.
"Are you talking about all the attention she's getting? Because I personally think it's great." Jamie grinned at his best friend and winked. "About time they realize how pretty you are. Make them regret treating you so bad."
"Well they're definitely regretting it," Quil chuckled. "C'mon, Jae. Let's dance while Jake finds the graduate of his dreams."
She let out a laugh as he spun her onto the dance floor, making them crash into a few of the other party-goers. Quil just waved off their insults and linked their hands, twisting them around the other pairs and just all around dancing terribly, but Jaeyeon didn't care. She was having a blast! For the first time, she was actually having fun in the presence of her classmates. She didn't feel scared or sad or angry, just happy. And this was exactly why she didn't want Jamie to push Embry and them away; without him, she would never be able to see them, and then she wouldn't be happy anymore.
"So have you forgotten about all the bad things they've done to you?" Quil whispered in her ear as he glared at everyone around them. He could hear what they were saying, and most of it wasn't pleasant. "Because I could cause a scene if you want. I don't mind causing a scene, honest."
"No, it's okay. They're not really that important in my life." She grinned up at him and pinched his cheek. "I've got some pretty great friends who help me get over some petty words thrown at me."
"Yeah, I guess I am a pretty great friend."
"You? I was talking about Jake and Seth!"
"Why you little!" He wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around again, causing her to let out a shriek of laughter that was quickly drowned out by the booming bass of the speakers. "No, but really, how were you these past few days without us?" he asked worriedly once he had set her down and walked off the dance floor.
"I was fine, Quil. I was, surprisingly, still allowed to call Seth, although my minutes were very limited." He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Oh would you stop looking at me like that? I swear, I was completely fine! I'm not some kid that breaks easily. I'm actually quite strong, thank you very much."
"Well I know you aren't fragile, but we still worry about you."
"Thanks. For looking out for me. It's… nice."
"Anytime, squirt, anytime."
Jamie and Embry stood together awkwardly after Quil had whisked Jaeyeon off and Jake had gone off to find Bella. Jamie was still kind of pissed that he wasn't planning on telling him his secret, and Embry was wondering what he'd done to have Jamie avoid him like this. He couldn't think of anything, unless he had figured out that the pack wasn't exactly happy about Jaeyeon tagging along whenever he and Minah visited. Personally he liked her just fine, except for when she was way too close to Jamie to be considered friendly. Now that he thought about it, that was actually normal for them. So maybe he wasn't exactly warm to her either, but it wasn't his fault! She should stay a better distance away from his imprint!
"So, uh," Embry started nervously, only for Jamie to cut him off.
"You're a major dick, you know that? Were you ever going to tell me your big secret? Didn't you think I deserved to know since I was hanging around you all all the time? And what about Minah? Do you really think it's smart to have her around you?"
"What?"
"Oh don't play dumb with me, Embry! I may be oblivious, but not everyone else is! Once it was pointed out to me, it became so obvious. The growth spurts, the higher metabolism, your sudden closeness to Sam; I was so stupid!"
"So do you, well, know everything?" he asked quietly, dreading the answer.
"Obviously not since you haven't told me anything! Right now it's all speculation, but I know one thing for certain. You guys aren't human."
"We're more human than the Cullens," Embry hissed. "Do you know what they are, Jamie?"
"Yes, actually I do." He decided not to tell him that he just found out about two hours ago. "And that doesn't make your situation any more desireable."
"So you're going to let Jaeyeon hang out around them?" Embry hated bringing her into this, especially because it forced him to acknowledge their close relationship, but he was desperate to show him that they were so much safer than the leeches. "We're too dangerous to be around, but they're fine?"
"I can't exactly control where she goes to school, Embry. I can, however, prevent her from getting to close to you all. She's had too many bad experiences with supernatural creatures, and I will do whatever I can to protect her." He glanced over at the girl who was speaking with Quil excitedly. "Look, I know there's some bond between you and me that I'm assuming has something to do with whatever it is you are, but that is nothing compared the the one between me and Jaeyeon. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true."
"You don't know anything about this connection, Jamie," Embry told him seriously. "If you knew about it, about us, then you wouldn't be saying that sort of thing."
"Well it's just too damn bad then that someone wouldn't tell me, isn't it?"
"We're having a bonfire in a few days. We discuss the legends, and I swear I will explain everything then, okay? Please, Jamie, it's killing me not seeing you."
"If I go, you have to promise that Jaeyeon won't be treated like she was before. Yeah, I noticed it. If she's treated like that again, I can promise you that we won't be coming back, understand?"
"Absolutely."
"Good."
He looked up to see Jaeyeon and Quil coming back to them, their cheeks flushed healthily from the amount of awful dancing they had done while Jamie and Embry talked. He ruffled Jaeyeon's hair when she returned to his side, grinning at the sparkle in her eyes, trying to ignore the fact that they were a lot more gold. He had to ignore that Bella was in trouble and, because of that, so was Jaeyeon.
"What did we miss?" Quil asked breathlessly. "You two make up yet?"
"Jamie's going to come to the bonfire."
"Yeah? Great! They're wild, bro. You'll have a great time."
Quil looked to see if Jaeyeon was feeling bad that she wasn't invited, but she was already occupied, staring across the room at where Alice and Bella were talking, Jake standing there looking incredibly confused. She tapped Jamie's wrist before walking off.
"And there she goes," Jamie muttered under his breath. "Better go catch up with her so she doesn't get into too much trouble. Be right back."
He slipped into the crowd after her, easily maneuvering himself so he was at her side, keeping a protective on the small of her back so she wouldn't be knocked away by the buzzed teenagers. Jaeyeon stood between Alice and Jake as she silently joined the conversation, Jamie deciding to stand just a little ways behind her. He assumed that this was when they discussed the plan.
"What's going on?" Jaeyeon asked quietly, causing Jake to look at her in shock. How did she keep sneaking up on him? "Are you going to tell everyone yet?"
"After the party," Alice replied. "We'll tell everyone after the party so we can make a plan of action. Are you going to participate?"
"Wait, so you're going to let the two humans participate but not the pack?" Jacob growled, already not liking this. "Are you insane?"
"Jake, Jaeyeon can help," Bella told him pleadingly. "Just please, I can't have you in danger too."
"We're practically indestructible, Bells! Jaeyeon is human. Whatever is going on, she will be snapped right in half like a toothpick."
"We'll be here," Jamie answered, completely ignoring Jacob's protests. "And Jake, we're a lot stronger than you give us credit for."
"I think tonight will be therapeutic," Jaeyeon mused. "Everyone must be getting frustrated not knowing what we are, so we'll be there to explain first, and if you decide you still want our help, we're definitely in."
"You're definitely in what?" Embry asked suspiciously, eyeing the girl in distrust.
"A huge mess," Jake grumbled. "Tell Sam that I'll be meeting with the Cullens about a possible threat to La Push. I get the feeling that things are about to get a lot more complicated."
Jamie and Jaeyeon stood to the side of the little congregation as Alice finished explaining the situation to everyone. Quil, Jake, and Embry kept glancing at them, wondering how they possibly fit into the equation. How did two humans like them affect this whole thing? How could they fare against newborn vampires? From what Alice was saying, they were the toughest to go up against, at least in terms of pure strength and speed. They weren't exactly sure to ask, however, so they kept their mouths shut. Embry wanted desperately to ask, but he figured Jamie wouldn't tell him until after his own secret was told, and he could understand that. So they did not mention the two humans, and, after the meeting, they went back home, Embry offering Jamie a small smile. He just had to wait until the bonfire, and then everything would be revealed.
Emmett and Rosalie offered to clean up the party while the others continued to talk, this time about Jamie and Jaeyeon. They would still be within hearing distance, but they guessed they would be more comfortable sharing their secrets with fewer people around. Jamie glanced at the tree-line, worried that Embry and them would still be nearby.
"They're gone," Alice told the pair once she was sure the wolves were out of earshot. "So are you going to tell us your story now?"
"I don't see why not," Jamie sighed as they moved a little closer to everyone and sat down. "You sure you all want to hear all of this? It's a long story, and it's kind of repetitive."
"It is not repetitive," Jaeyeon scolded him. "But it is a very long story, one that Carlisle is familiar with."
"You are going to have to job my memory," he said with a smile. "What kind of supernatural are you?
The two friends exchanged smiles before answering in unison, "Nymphs.
I'm not very happy with the way this ended, but after rewriting the ending again and again, I have resigned myself to the fact that this is the best it's going to get. So please look forward to the next chapter, and, as always, thank you for reading!