Hey everyone! So after going through my reviews, I decided that I'm going to start replying to you all:) I'm not sure if you guys would like this or not, but some of what you say is so nice or so funny that I just have to reply! And this way if you all have any questions you don't have to PM me like some people have been doing, so it's a lot easier for everyone:) Just a reminder: I can only reply to reviews written by members; I'm not able to respond to guest reviews. Thanks again for all your support, and if you are new to my story, I hope you like it! I can't tell you how excited I get when people comment that they just started the story and they love it; I usually go back and reread the beginning chapters and it is so fun! Thanks again everyone!
I breathed in and somehow, Jacob's natural scent managed to overshadow the strong scent of the wood burning in front of us. "How do you manage to smell this good all the time?"
Jacob laughed and kissed my cheek. I was sitting in his lap, and we were all sitting around the campfire. The rest of the day had consisted of relaxing by eating, floating down the lazy river and eating some more- luckily Jacob and I had hid our junk food, so no one else could take it.
I looked over at Kelly and Seth who were cuddled up in their own chair; I couldn't help but notice that my best friend looked perfectly content, and I smiled. "Kelly and Seth seem to have worked their crap out," Jacob commented, seeming to acknowledge what I had just realized as well.
"Good," I answered, "I don't think our tent is even big enough for three."
"Not for what we'll be doing tonight," Jacob commented. I elbowed him and told him to shush. Although we had been intimate for a while now, I was still uncomfortable about discussing it with him.
"You're cute when you're shy," Jacob smiled, "Want to go for a walk?" I nodded and stood up, holding my hands out for him to take and then helping him up. Jacob's arm wrapped around me as we traveled farther into the woods, the soft hum of people's voices fading into the background, and instead, the crackle of leaves underneath our feet filling the atmosphere.
"How are you doing Jacob?" I asked him.
"What do you mean?" He inquired, leaning down to kiss the side of my forehead and hugging me to him.
"Everyone is always so worried about me, but no one ever asks if you're doing alright."
"Well they don't have to," Jacob responded, "I'm perfectly happy as long as I'm with you."
"What about when you weren't?" I questioned. Jacob and I rarely talked about the time when I was living as Cali Sparrow in Maryland, and we even more infrequently ever touched upon his life during that time.
"It wasn't pretty," He spoke quietly.
"Can you tell me about it?" I asked.
"Why? It's over now," Jacob squeezed my shoulder and I smiled up at him in the darkness.
"I just need to make sure that if I get hit by a car or struck by lighting or fall off a cliff that you'll be ok. Your life can't just stop if I'm not around anymore." Jacob stopped and grabbed my shoulders, turning me towards him. The moon was the only light illuminating Jacob's perfect face and his worried expression.
"Why are you talking like this?"
I sighed, "They're still out there Jacob- all of them: Eric, the Volturi; they'll kill me if they ever find out I'm alive. And I don't want you to be collateral damage."
"Collateral damage," Jacob scoffed, taking my head between his hands, "You are my life. You can't tell me that I wouldn't die if you did- because I would."
"Jacob," I breathed, "I can't be responsible for all of these people dying."
"Who's dying?" Jacob's breath was hot against my face.
"You want to know why I'm still so terrified?" I asked, "Because I'm not only worried about me but about everyone else who has the misfortune of being in my life."
"Loving you is not a misfortune," Jacob shook his head and ran his finger across my cheek, "It is the most amazing gift anyone could ever be given."
"You're biased."
"I'm right," He smiled. I looked up into his deep brown eyes and then glanced at his lips, him seeming to do the same. His other hand came gently to the other side of my face as he ran his fingertip across my lower lip. He leaned in and I closed my eyes, expecting what was to come, but still shocked by how amazing his lips felt against my own. We disconnected and I kept my eyes closed, resting my forehead against his as we both took deep breaths.
"Surviving with you gone," Jacob's hand brushed the hair off of the side of my face, "Was the hardest thing I ever had to do." I leaned up and kissed him again, his breath hot inside of my mouth.
"But you did survive," I reminded him.
"The only reason I did was because I knew that one day we would be together again."
"I was waiting for you; I didn't even know it, but I was waiting for you," I ran my hand along the side of his face, basking in his touch, "I was empty- so empty, and then I met you."
"I was worried that you would find someone else."
"Never," I answered, bringing my lips to his again.
"You won't admit it, but men must have been all over you," Jacob's hand brushed my cheek.
"None that I had any interest in," I smiled into his lips.
"But for some reason, you have interest in me," Jacob's hands moved to my lower back and pulled me towards him. He kissed me with passion and I matched his enthusiasm.
"I kind of love you," I shrugged my shoulders.
"Kind of!" Jacob mocked. He connected his lips with mine again and I giggled before kissing him back.
He broke away from me and sighed, "You don't remember anything from before?"
"No," I answered honestly, "I don't."
Jacob nodded and diverted his eyes to the ground. "Does that bother you?" I asked.
"No," Jacob smiled, "I still remember, I just wish you did; not for myself, but so that you could have the memories."
I smiled, "Are they good? Good memories?"
"Yes," Jacob smiled bright.
"Can you tell me one," I played with the collar of Jacob's shirt and leaned into him.
"Hmm," Jacob ran his fingers through my soft, curly hair, "What would you like to know?"
"Tell me anything," I smiled, "A favorite memory, maybe."
"A favorite memory," Jacob smiled, "Well how about the morning of your 14th birthday?"
"Fourteenth birthday," I thought for a moment, "That was my last birthday at home, right?"
"Yes," Jacob kissed my cheek then bit his lip, trying not to smile.
"What?" I asked, "Is this going to be embarrassing."
"Very," Jacob smiled. His hands grasped my thighs and he lifted me off the ground. I wrapped my legs around him as he walked over to the nearest tree, sliding down it so that we were sitting comfortably on the ground. My legs were sprawled out as I sat on his lap with his back against the tree.
"You were originally suppose to leave two days before your birthday, but we changed it to the day after, when you asked for one last birthday at home."
"That's kind of depressing," I commented.
"You were pretty sad- we all were. We were outside on your balcony underneath mounds of blankets, having a sleepover."
"Wow, a sleepover at 14, I must have been a serious player," I nodded my head in appreciation to my old self.
"Oh just wait," Jacob laughed.
"Crap."
"So we were talking," Jacob began.
"About what?" I asked, interrupting him.
"About a lot of things; you were leaving for who knew how long, we were talking about everything- now stop interrupting me." I giggled at his scolding tone. "You were taking about how long it was going to be until we could actually be together. We were best friends, but no where near ready for a romantic relationship."
"So I knew about the imprinting?" I asked him, ignoring his instructions for me to keep my questions to myself.
"Yes, you knew about it since as soon as you could speak, which was very young." I nodded and he continued, "You didn't want to leave without at least having kissed me."
"Oh no," I put my hands on the sides of my face and tried to conceal my blush, although it was very much impossible.
"Oh yes," Jacob laughed, "You tried to convince me at least for fifteen minutes until I finally conceited.
I gasped, "You made out with a fourteen year old?"
"No," Jacob laughed, "I pecked you, like this." He grabbed my face between his hands and quickly kissed me, his lips barely touching mine and only doing so for less than a second.
"Mmm," I smiled, bringing his mouth to mine once more for a more passionate kiss. "Was I happy with that?"
"Very," Jacob laughed, "Or at least your bright red cheeks seemed to be."
I laughed, "What are you talking about? I don't blush!"
"Oh really," Jacob nodded his head and laughed. He leaned into me and whispered into my ear. I gasped and hid my face- I had never heard him talk so explicitly to me, and I was immediately embarrassed.
"See, you blush," Jacob cupped my cheeks in his hands and I bit my lip.
"Jacob," I spoke.
"Yes?"
"I want you to kiss me; or would you prefer me beg?"
"Mm," Jacob mumbled, "You never have to beg for that." I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck as he brought his mouth to mine. He sucked on my lip, which was something that he knew I loved, and I deepened the kiss. I bravely slid my tongue into his mouth and he responded greedily, by moving his own with mine. He moved his lips to my neck and I pulled away.
"We should probably get back," I whispered. Although I didn't want to, I knew that we had snuck away and someone would be coming to look for us soon.
"Probably," Jake agreed. He brought his lips to mine once more and kissed me. I sighed once he pulled away from me. He stood up, with my legs wrapped once again around his torso, and then dropped my feet to the ground.
Something crunched a branch in the distance and I jumped. "Still enjoying camping?" Jake laughed. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, but smiled nonetheless. Jacob entwined his fingers with my own as we walked along the trail, following the distant light of the campfire to where everyone else was.
"There you two are," Rachel smiled as we walked back to our seat. Jacob sat and then pulled me on top of him. I nestled my side into him and rested my head on his chest, while he wrapped his arms around me. I felt him kiss the top of my head and smiled as I breathed in his usual smell.
"Finally!" Claire blurted. I felt her grab my hand and pull me towards her, causing me to yell out when she tugged on my shoulder too hard.
"Hey, cool it," Jacob spoke, rubbing my shoulder.
"I need you," Claire spoke with panic, "Now." My eyes widened at how urgent her voice sounded.
"I'll be right back, Jake," I kissed his cheek and then got up, immediately missing his warm embrace.
I followed Claire into the tent that she was leading us to, Kelly joining us when Claire yanked her up as well. "What's going on?" I asked, once the three of us were safely zipped inside of Claire and Quil's tent.
"I'm pregnant," Claire blurted. My mouth popped open and I stared in shock at her. Claire was pregnant?
"Uhhh," I couldn't form a coherent thought in my head. Oh my God.
"Wh- wh- well how do you know?" Kelly asked, her panic seeping through in her trembling voice.
"I had a hunch," Claire spoke sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "I took a freaking test, ok?"
"Well do you have it?" I asked, finally able to speak again. Claire walked to her air mattress and reached under it, pulling out a single, white stick and handed it to me. Kelly looked over my shoulder as we both stared at the pregnancy test, both gasping when we saw the solid blue plus.
"Um," I began. What did I want to say? "Um, um… um."
"Well aren't these things wrong all the time?" Kelly blurted, "We, we need to take another one. We have to do another one."
"She's right," I spoke, trying to swallow my panic, for I didn't want to scare Claire, "It's probably just a defective test."
"Definitely," Kelly agreed, crossing her arms overtop of her chest.
"When did you even take this, anyways?" I asked her, inspecting the test once more, like somehow the more I looked at it, the plus would change to a minus sign.
"Like an hour ago, but then you went a-wall and I had to suffer in peace until you came back."
"You brought a pregnancy test camping with you?" Kelly asked. I almost laughed, but the biting look in Claire's eyes kept my mouth straight.
"Well I was going to take it the night before the trip, but then Quil and I got a little, uh, preoccupied, and I forgot. So I just figured I would bring it and it would come up negative and everything would be fine- and then this."
"Ok, ok," Kelly had her hands held out with her fingers spread wide and her palms facing the ground, "Let's just take a few more tests, then panic. Ok?"
"Ok," Claire and I both agreed. I loved how Kelly just took charge, because if not, I wouldn't have known what to do.
"You have more, right?" Kelly asked.
"Yeah, the box came with three." Claire went into her bag across the room and dug through it until she found the pink pregnancy test box.
"The outhouse is like a five minute walk, but there is only enough room for one."
"Just do it in here," Kelly spoke, looking around the room before she grabbed an almost empty container of trail mix and opened the tent to dumb the rest out, before handing it to her.
"I am not peeing in that," Claire commented with a disgusted look on her face.
"Claire, get over yourself. If you really are pregnant, peeing in a container is the least of your worries."
"She's right," I spoke, in defense of Kelly, "We don't judge, we've both done it." Claire gave me an odd look and I clarified, "Peeing in front of each other, I mean."
"Oh," Claire crossed her arms, "I thought for a second there you both had gotten pregnant at eighteen as well."
"Claire!" I spoke, going over to her and grabbing her shoulders, "We don't even know if you are. Just take the tests." I grabbed the box out of her hands and pulled the two tests out. I removed the plastic wrapping on one of them and handed it to her, holding the other, unopened one in my hand for her to use once she finished. With a sigh, Claire finally gave in and stripped her pants in front of us. Kelly held the bucket while she peed and I paced until she handed the stick to me. I handed the other test to Kelly, who tore off the plastic wrapping and the process began all over again until I was holding two used pregnancy tests in my hands.
"What does it say?" Claire asked.
"I'm not looking until I get to 120 seconds," I broke my counting to reply. Finally, after two minutes of pacing and counting, I took a deep breath and looked down at the tests.
"Shit," I spoke, my mouth dropping open once again.
Kelly walked over and grabbed the two tests out of my hand, "Shit."
"What? What?" Claire spoke frantically, quickly grabbing the two tests out of Kelly's hands, "Shit."
"What are we going to do?" I spoke in bewilderment. After a moment of silence, both Claire and I looked towards Kelly, who had been the one giving instructions since we entered the tent.
"I," Kelly shook her head, "I don't know." She looked up and all three of us shared terrified, shocked looks, completely dumbfounded.
One hour later
"You could always get rid of it," Kelly suggested.
"Kelly," I scolded, rubbing Claire's arms with my palms. For the past hour since we learned the results of the test, we had all sat in Claire's tent while she cried and we attempted to calm her down. Finally, Claire was a little calmer, and I thought it the right time to bring up her options.
"You know Claire, there are a lot of different options: open adoption, closed adoption. That's a way of not having to terminate the pregnancy, but not necessarily having to be a mom."
"That's ridiculous," Claire shook her head, "I always wanted to have kids with Quil. I love Quil. I just wanted them after med-school."
"Well," I began, shaking my head, "Sometimes things don't always work out the way we planned for them to.
"Do you think I planned to get imprinted on by a werewolf?" Kelly blurted. Her outburst causing Claire to laugh, which made me fell a little relief.
"I just," Claire shook her head, "I'm 18 and Quil is 21. We're not ready to be parents."
"Is anyone ready to be a parent?" I asked, causing Claire to look up at me.
"Look," Kelly began, coming to sit on the other side of Claire, "Both Cali and I had some pretty jacked up parents. I mean, we're both living in a different states with people that our parents don't even really know, and they haven't called or texted or tried to make any kind of contact unless they had a question about my credit card spending," Kelly sighed, "I don't know anything about being a parent. But all that I do know is that above all, a kid needs to be loved; and I think you and Quil could do that."
I smiled at Kelly and reached across to grab her hand, squeezing it in my palm. "You're going to be ok, Claire. We're here." After a moment of silence I continued, "Do you think we should go get Quil?"
"What?" Claire asked with a newfound panic, "No! No you can't!"
"We can tell him with you if that would make you feel better," Kelly suggested, running her fingers through her dark brown hair.
"I can't," Claire's eyes started to water again, "I can't tell him."
"Ok," I nodded my head, not wanting her to start crying again, "Ok, we won't tell him today. Not until you're ready."
Claire sighed, "Can you guys stay with me tonight?"
"Of course," Kelly's hand entwined with Claire's and I placed mine overtop of theirs.
"Always," I smiled, "Let me just go talk to Jacob first, ok?"
"Ok," Claire spoke with a weak voice. Considering she was such an intelligent person, I wondered what was going on inside of her head; it was probably going a thousand miles a minute. I smiled at Claire and mouthed for Kelly to stay with her before I left.
I saw Jacob still sitting by the campfire, with a beer in his hand this time. He was surrounded by Paul, Seth and… Quil. I stopped walking and shuffled from foot to foot. Should I continue? Jacob turned and smiled brightly when he saw me, and I couldn't help but smile back. He waved me over and I took a deep breath before venturing over to him. Once I reached him, Jacob grabbed my wrist and pulled me down on top of him.
"Hi pretty lady," Jacob kissed my cheek.
"Hi," I giggled. Jacob handed me his beer and I took a swig, sticking my tongue out at the taste, "I hate beer." I cuddled into his chest and sighed a breath of pure ecstasy when he enclosed me in his strong arms.
"Want to go to bed?" Jacob asked softly into my ear.
"Ugh," I moaned, "I want nothing more; but that's what I came to tell you." Jacob's eyebrows knotted and I hated to see him worried, when he had looked so carefree only seconds ago, "Claire is having a little, uh, catastrophe, so Kelly and I told her that we would stay in her tent tonight." Jacob let out a breath and his disappointment was palpable.
"Are you sure there isn't anything I can do to convince you?" Jacob touched his lips to mine lightly and I responded by pressing them harder together.
"That's what I'm worried about," I laughed, kissing him once more, "Mm, I love you."
"I love you too baby," Jacob replied, "Sleep tight." He kissed my forehead and I begrudgingly got up, off of his lap. After I had only taken a few steps, Quil stopped me.
"Oh, hey Cali," Quil began, "Are you guys going to come out soon? I feel like I haven't seen Claire all night."
"Um," I spoke with nervousness, "She, she isn't feeling well."
"Oh," Quil's face filled with worry, "What's wrong with her?"
"Well, she's a little nauseous and just not feeling uh, normal," I tried to be as truthful as possible while beating around the bush.
"I'm going to go check on her," Quil spoke, taking strides towards the tent.
"No!" I panicked, grabbing his arm, "You can't do that!"
"Why?" He asked, shaking my hand off of his arm.
"She, uh, ok well the truth is that she's experiencing some woman troubles," This honest thing was getting to be ridiculously difficult.
"Woman troubles?" Quil asked; obviously he didn't get my hint about her being on her period, nor suspect the truth.
"It's a huge mess, and it's everywhere. It's a mess and it's just covering everything." That wasn't a lie- it was a huge mess.
"A huge me- Oh!" Quil's face contorted into something of disgust and he took a few steps away from me, like just being too close to me would cause him to catch the period bug, "Alright well, uh, tell her, tell her… yeah." He turned and walked back towards the campfire, scratching his head and not finishing his sentence; whew, that was bound to keep him away for the rest of the night.
Once I returned to the tent, the hours passed by with us crying, eating from the junk food stash that I selflessly shared with them, watching movies on the I-Pad Kelly had brought, as well as talking. After a few hours, we all must have fallen asleep, for I was woken up by a set of two strong arms lifting me off the ground.
"Jacob," I mumbled, immediately knowing from the smell and the feel of his skin who was carrying me.
"Cali," Jacob's tone was light and gentle.
I mumbled something incoherent and turned in his arms so that I could burry my face into his bare chest, "What's going on?"
"You had a nightmare," Jacob kissed my forehead, "You were screaming." I shook my head and let out a breath, hating that I had to be transported into his tent because of my night terrors, but also way too tired to really care. After a very brief walk, I felt myself being laid down on the air mattress that held Jacob's unique scent. I burried my face into the pillows and took a deep breath. I heard the tent zip back up and felt the mattress shift as Jacob laid down next to me. His arm wrapped around me and I smiled with my eyes closed.
"Couldn't go one night without me," I mumbled, making fun of him.
"Of course not," He smiled, kissing my cheek and pulling me, by my side, towards him.
"Jacob," I sighed, sleep prickling at every angle of my body, "Tell me another story, from before."
After a second, Jacob began talking, "You know how once a year I would come to check on you?"
"Mhm," I mumbled.
"Well the first time I ever went to see you, you were getting ice cream at that little shop by your house."
"Mimi's Ice Cream," I smiled at the memory, "One day when we go back there, I'll take you."
"Ok," Jacob kissed the space right below my ear and rubbed my back as he spoke, "Well you were getting ice cream there and I was in line behind you, trying to find some way to talk to you. You were about to leave and I still hadn't started up a conversation with you. Finally I decided what I was going to say, and at that exact time, you turned and bumped into me, spilling your entire milkshake all over your body."
"What?" I laughed, scratching his abdomen softly.
"You were pissed and I kept apologizing over and over again until you finally seemed to calm down. After that, I convinced you to let me take you out to coffee later that night."
"You took me out to coffee?" I questioned but laughed at the same time.
"Yes," He laughed.
"I want you to tell me more about this tomorrow," I yawned, "But I am very tired."
"Sleep baby," Jacob kissed my lips softly and I smiled with my eyes closed.
"Perfect," I mumbled, so happy in my tiny little bubble of Jacob. This was perfection.
I hope you all enjoyed this! Xoxo:) Follow/favorite/review