I hope to God you guys read each other's reviews. Some of them cause me to break out into fits of giggles when you mention castrating people with garden sheers and what you tell your friends about this story. Seriously, you guys make my day.
Oh, just to clear a few things up:
I did plan on taking the last chapter out for a while and progressing Jackson and Claire's friendship, but I just didn't feel like writing all that. Sorry. :( I really am.
It was NOT rape. again, I'm sorry for the confusion. If it was…I would hate myself and this story would be M. If you read it carefully, you'll notice it was just sleazy.
I'm sorry about the lack of updates. I just haven't really been in the mood to write.
"What an eventful day." Amy flopped down on the couch, turning her pretty face towards mine so she could read the expression on my face. "You're looking a little dour. It really doesn't do much for you, by the way. I don't think Quil would appreciate that look."
The mention of Quil's name caused a pang to go through my heart. "Yeah, well he won't have to worry about it until Monday."
"He's gone?" She sighed. "And here I thought he was going to be within a ten-foot radius at all times."
"Someone stopped by to pick up your uniform." I quickly changed the subject.
"Oh, really? Who was it? Lisa?" She picked up the remote and browsed through the channels on the television in front of us.
"Nope," I scowled at the glowing box. "Jackson took the liberty of retrieving it."
"Jackson was here?" She turned to me completely, ignoring the TV. "Oh my…What happened? Did something happen? Oh, oh…" She tapped her pink nails along her bottom lip. "Did you two do anything? I thought you were with Quil now. Am I wrong?"
"No, I am with Quil." I reconsidered the question. "Well, sort of."
"What about Jackson?"
"Nothing happened." I shrugged, surprised at how easily the lie slid out of my lips. The last person I wanted in my business was Amy. She would make my life a living hell with all the gossip she was capable of.
"That's too bad, Claire." She truly did look bummed about it. "I mean, last I heard he does really like you. Not to mention he is so, so good looking. I think he already got a scholarship to play basketball in Texas or something. And he's only a senior this year! You have an entire school year to nab him."
I mentally crossed Texas off my list of colleges. "Don't count on it." I told her, climbing to my feet and making my way to the garage on the side of our house.
"You'll change your mind, you know!" She called, her attention back on the TV.
I hopped down the last step into the dark garage and flicked on the overhead light. I couldn't understand what was with everyone suddenly thinking I was going to change my mind lately. It wasn't something I was prone to do.
I picked up a small, round pipe off the workbench my father never used and weighed it in my hands. It was heavy and metal, but hallow enough for me to swing with accuracy. Now I would have no problem going to sleep tonight.
"Goodnight, Amy." I whistled as I walked past the couch, the pipe swung over my shoulder. The homemade baseball bat was empowering.
I tucked the pipe- my pipe- into bed next to me, still wearing a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt. If Jackson were to sneak through my window or reach me any other way, I would be dressed and prepared. I wouldn't stop until all his ribs were broken- or so I told myself.
It was far past midnight when I finally closed my eyes, the stick of metal still gripped tightly in my hands. I wouldn't let go no matter what. This time I would control the situation.
I felt a dull screech reverberate through my body before I heard it in my dream.
My window was opening.
My eyes snapped open and I clutched the pipe more firmly in my hands. I could hear the floorboards creak and the sound made me shudder uncontrollably. I had never thought Jackson would actually come through my window.
A large figure loomed over me in the darkness, bending down so that it could get a good look at my face.
I didn't even think before I brought the pipe around to connect with the silhouette's form.
"Jesus Christ! What are you trying to do to me?" The figure had caught my weapon mid-swing and danced out of the way just in time.
"Jake!" I squealed, dropping the pipe and flying out of my bed to throw my arms around his neck.
"I wish you would have figured that out before trying to crack my skull." He told me, letting me hang around his neck like a small child.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered, feeling a wave a fresh tears spring to my eyes.
"Hey," He pulled me away when he realized I was crying. "What's wrong, little girl?" He sat on my bed and set me next to him and drug his thumbs under my eyes to dry them. "And not to be nosey, but why in the world are you sleeping with a pipe?"
I sat cross-legged in front of him, wiping the remaining tears on the neck of my shirt. "It's just a girl thing." I explained, but he saw right through me. Even Embry would have been able to tell I was lying.
"You have exactly two seconds to tell me the truth before I call Quil." Jacob threatened.
He knew just where to strike.
I pulled my legs up to my chest, weighing my options. Certainly telling Jake was out of the question, but if he got Quil involved they would rally the troops and Jackson would be faced with an army of pissed-off werewolves.
Honestly, the idea wasn't all that bad.
"No!" I caught his hand as he reached for the phone on my bedside table.
"So you're going to tell me?" He squinted down into my eyes.
"Yes," I whispered, feeling my cheeks heat up and gave a silent thanks that the dark hid it. Not that I had done anything to be ashamed of, but it still made me feel awkward.
"I'm waiting." He crossed his arms impatiently. Billy must not have remember to teach him that virtue.
"Well," I swallowed the lump in my throat. "It's a little hard to explain."
"I have all night."
"But you won't wait that long to call Quil if I don't tell you."
"That would be correct." He put a hand on my cheek, which was very rare for him. "What's wrong, Claire?"
I felt my eyes begin to well-up, but I pushed the tears away. I was crying far too much these days. "There was this boy…"
"A boy?" Jake's voice hardened and he let his hand fall away from my face where it clenched into a fist at his side.
"A boy," I repeated, stalling. "He was here today. He came to pick up Amy's uniform? I'm not sure. Well, I was getting my shower when he arrived so I threw on a towel and was just going to shove the stupid outfit through the door, but he pushed it open and came in." I glared at my lap, afraid to look up.
"Is that all?"
I shook my head and took a few deep breaths before I continued. "While he was here I went to go get dressed and he…he follow me into my room." I curled my hands around my face. "I was so stupid not to realize that he wasn't going to be nice. He told me he had changed. He even apologized. I believed him and when I was in here he came up to me and he…" I tried to find the right words. "He grabbed my towel." I felt a wave of anger towards myself.
"Off?" Jacob's eyes glinted in the darkness.
"Yes," I whispered, too embarrassed to continue.
"Who was it?"
"Nobody…" I couldn't tell him.
"Did he…do anything else?" He seemed like he was struggling to keep his voice even.
"He pushed me down and then nothing else." I glanced up at his face then back down just as quickly. "He took off his shirt, but then his phone rang. Nothing else happened."
"And now you have to sleep with a giant pipe next to you incase he might come back?" Jake's voice was dead now.
"It's not that big. I just feel so…scared." I admitted, cringing. "And embarrassed...I know I shouldn't, but it's hard not to be. I mean, I was so stupid to think that he…" I sighed. "I thought he was going to rape me. And do you know what the pitiful thing was? I was so scared I couldn't do anything. I felt like I had been plunged into cold water and my bones were frozen together. I don't even remember if I told him to stop."
"Stay here." Jake ordered, standing so suddenly I leapt back in surprise.
"No!" I grabbed one of his hands before he could leave. "Please don't leave me. Please, Jake. Quil isn't here and I…" I choked off before I could say anything else.
I knew if he left now he wouldn't be able to think of anything else. Before sunrise the whole pack would have known and I would have a murder on my hands. It didn't take a genius to figure out who had been here. Not to mention I was most positive that the wolves had an excellent sense of smell.
"You know you're having mood swings?" He told me, sitting back down on the bed.
"Why don't you try being a teenage girl for a few days and get back to me with that?" I suggested, feeling the atmosphere lift at once.
"No, thank you." He rubbed a comforting hand in circles on my back. "Claire?"
"Yeah?" I had lain down on my stomach and closed my eyes.
"Who was it?" He didn't stop rubbing my back in the slow, comforting pattern.
"I…I can't tell you. It's…embarrassing." I winced.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow, then. Go to sleep, little girl. I'll be here to look out for you."
"Promise me you won't call Quil." I mumbled, half awake.
"I promise."
I closed my eyes, feeling myself drift back into sleep as the sun began to rise on the mountains out my window.
"You know," Embry's mockingly thoughtful voice woke me up the next morning. "Every time I leave for a long period of time I come and find you here curled up with Jakey." He slapped his friend jokingly on the back, causing Jake to groan and swat his hand away.
"Go away," I muttered, closing my eyes against the light that filtered into my room through the blinds.
"Quil, I think she's cheating on you!" Embry called, his voice joyous. "And with our best friend, no less!"
"Unbelievable," I shuddered at the new voice, forcing my eyes open.
"Quil," I struggled off the bed and into his embrace, wrapping my arms and legs around him happily before I remembered what had happened yesterday.
"It's good to see you, too." Quil chuckled and kissed me, not caring that Embry was making gagging sound behind us. "Grow up, Call." He told his friend before kissing me again.
I felt guilty as he whispered sweet ideas in my ear. What if he didn't want me after Jackson had touched me?
I shuddered. That would never happen.
"Jake, you old scoundrel," Embry flopped down on my bed beside his friend, causing the springs to squeak in protest. "Making up with Quil's best girl,"
"Whoa, that would be my only girl." Quil chimed in.
"Shove off," Jake sat up slowly, his face becoming more and more serious. He looked at me in Quil's arms and cleared his throat. "There happen to be other people in the room, you know."
Quil sighed and let me slide to the floor. "That's a pity considering the comforts we would be afforded in a bedroom."
Embry squawked indignantly. "Quil! Do not speak of her that way! Or at least not when I'm in the room."
"I'm so sorry, Embry." Quil scowled at his friend before turning to me. Suddenly the joking manner faded away. "Claire? Is something wrong?"
I worked hard to compose my face. "No, nothing," I said quickly, flashing him a false smile. "Why are you and the instigator home so early? I thought you were going to be gone until at least Monday."
"Are you complaining?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I'm glad you're home." I leaned against his broad chest, inhaling deeply.
"Claire…" Jake warned, shifting so the pipe I had taken to bed with me rolled onto the floor with a loud clang. I winced in spite of myself.
"What the hell?" Quil reached down and picked of the metal tool, spinning it in his hands. "Why is this in here? Or more importantly, why is it in your bed?"
"That lonely, huh, Claire?" Embry joked, but was cut off quickly by Jake's sharp glare.
"Jake…" I gulped. "Please, please don't make me tell him." I begged, stepping away from them all and staring at the floor under my feet.
"I think it would be best if you told him." Jake told me gently.
I shook. "I can't." Quil's arms wrapped around me and pulled me up so that I was cradled in his arms.
"What happened? What did I miss?" His eyes searched mine franticly.
"Quil set her down. Let's all go for a little run." Jake gave me a reassuring wink and I mouthed a 'thank you' back.
"We'll be back in a few minutes." Quil promised, touching my face briefly.
"I know." I smiled, trying to make it look genuine.
He flashed me a smile and trotted out the door after his friends, his shirt already half-way over his head.
"Quil!"
He spun around, his eyes meeting mine as he tossed his shirt to the side.
"Be careful, okay? And reasonable, please." I let myself stare at him standing there; half naked and sculpted like a statue.
"Ten minutes," He promised, and then sprinted off into the woods.
It was the longest ten minutes of my life.
"Come back, Quil. Come on…" I kept my eyes glued to the rooster clock my father had bought in England and brought back home with him. It was ugly as sin, but he loved it. Possibly more than he loved his children and wife.
The front door opening caught my attention.
"Quil? Embry? Jake?" I called out to the silent house, my heart hammering through my chest.
Where was that pipe when I needed it?
"Claire,"
"Oh, Quil," I felt the relief flood through my veins and released a breath I didn't know I had been holding.
"Why didn't you call me?" Quil muttered into my hair after I wrapped my arms around him.
"Why would I?" I sighed happily.
"Oh, I don't know Claire…maybe because some random ex of yours tried to take advantage of you?" He asked sarcastically, but still kindly.
"It didn't seem like a good idea." I inhaled slowly against his skin. He hadn't put a shirt on after his run. "Can I ask what happened?"
"No,"
I pulled away from his enticing heat. "Why? What happened? Are you mad at me?" I felt my face crumble slowly and tried to catch myself.
"Why in the world would I be mad at you?" He shook his head and picked me up as if I were a doll instead of a person. "It wasn't mutual, was it?"
I shook my head furiously as he set my on the kitchen counter. "Of course not,"
He sighed, planting his hands on the counter beside me and leaning in on his arms to rest his forehead against mine. "Jake said you were pretty freaked."
"Wouldn't you be?" I was tempted to take advantage of our present situation, but restrained myself.
"I didn't mean it like that. It just seems like you're rather calm now."
"You're here." I said simply. "I can deal with anything."
"Mmm…" He nuzzled his nose against my neck.
"I didn't think you'd react this way." I let the honesty slip out before I could stop it.
"In what way would I be reacting?" He pulled back to look me in the eye and I swore silently at my mistake.
"Just less…well, reasonably?" I offered, biting my lip.
"I was going to kill him." Quil stated it in the same tone he used when he told me I had gotten a phone call.
"You were what?" I squalled, my eyes budging.
"I didn't. I just thought about it. I thought about it a lot."
"Oh," I felt dumbfounded.
"Did you want me to?" He sounded hopeful.
"No! I think I can do without having a jail bird boyfriend." I gave him a dour look. "So if you didn't kill him or dismember him or something like that…what did you do?"
"Nothing," Quil shrugged, his massive shoulders moving up and down made me shudder.
"I don't believe you."
"Tough,"
"Quil…" I warned, trying to look threatening. "Tell me."
He looked at me for a fraction of a second before caving in. "Fine,"
I felt a thrill go through me at my new-found power. "What did you do?"
"It was more of an accident, really. It's what I'm doing now."
"Talking to me? What? Are you supposed to be the distraction while the rest of the…" I trailed off as the realization hit me full-force. "Quil…"
He bit his lip, looking like a child who had done something very wrong.
"What…?"
"Sam was running when Jake shifted."
I hurdled off the counter. "Oh crap! Crap!"
"Calm it down, pipsqueak." Quil set me back on the counter and held me there with his iron hands. "He's going to talk to him."
I struggled against him. "You promise? I mean really, really promise?"
"I wouldn't lie to you. Not about this." He told me, waiting for me to calm down.
I gave up my fight after a few minutes and slumped against his chest.
"So," Quil brought his hands up to my head and ran them over my hair. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really." I grumbled, emotionally exhausted.
"I think you're bipolar." He joked.
"I think it's because of you." I shot back, trying not to snigger.
"You're probably right."
"I know I am." I pulled him closer so that he was pressed up against the counter...and me.
"And you're pushy," He whispered in my ear before trailing his lips along my jaw line and down my chin until he reached my other ear. "But I think that's one of the reasons I love you so much." He traced his path of kisses back to my lips.
I kissed him back contently until the front door swung open and a voice interrupted us.
"Hey Claire, what's u- Oh my God…Mom and Dad are going to flip when they find out!"
AN: Seriously you guys, I have been freaking over this chapter. I dunno if I like it or I hate it or I don't give a damn either way. I think it's time or a change in this story…Maybe some action or a new step in their relationship? Don't worry, you'll find out what happened to Jackson sooner or later.
I'm having a hard time wrapping up this story. It's kind of my baby. :(