INTERLUDE
January 14th, 2018
Today was Jacob Black's 19th birthday.
"It's your last year of being a teenager, dude," said Bella, clapping him on the back as she walked up the front porch steps of Emily's house.
"I mean, sort of? Age is just a number when you're technically immortal," said Jacob, shoving his hands in the pocket of his hoodie. "Edward is 19, but he's also 116. Is he a teenager or not?"
"I'm a fucking vampire, babey!" said the redhead in question, shooting finger guns at the two of them as he passed by, guitar case slung over his back.
"I hope that answered your question," said Bella, walking ahead of him.
Truth be told, Jacob wasn't sure how he felt about his birthday this year. Turning 19 shouldn't have been a big deal—it was an unremarkable age in the greater world of birthdays, yet everyone had made a big deal out of throwing him a party at Emily's place. Sure, he probably deserved it, but did he need it? Did it mean anything?
Bella and Edward walked through the house to the back porch and out into the yard where everyone was gathering. Jared was grilling burgers, Kim keeping close watch over his shoulder. Embry was playing music via a bluetooth speaker. Collin and Brady were tossing around a football.
Most of the Cullens had already arrived, not quite mingling with the members of the pack. This had less to do with their relationships with the people themselves and more with their relationship to the land. For many of them, this would be the first time they had set foot in La Push since the 1930s. They were in unfamiliar territory.
Jacob stopped at the sliding doors to the back porch. Jasper was leaning against one of the beams holding up the roof, beer in hand.
"People watching?" Jacob asked him.
"Hm? Oh, sure. Never been all that great at small talk."
"You're uncomfortable."
"I think everyone's uncomfortable," he said, taking a sip of his beer. "I'd know."
Jacob didn't need Jasper's super empathy to know that he was right. As cozy as the scene before them looked, the vibes were definitely not quite there. Of course, some older members of the Tribal Council had been invited, and they were still getting over the treaty rewrite. Sue was starting to grow accustomed to the Cullens' presence, but Jacob's own father was yet to come around, as were many of his friends, including Old Quil, who was present this , had their cold gazes fixed on Carlisle. Charlie was also there, oblivious to it all (and turning a blind eye to the minor amount of underage drinking that was going on).
"I didn't ask for a birthday party, let alone some kind of awkward monster mixer," said Jacob, chuckling. "I thought we were getting along pretty well, but throwing the old folks into the mix really sets us back, huh?"
"Implying that we're not the old folks," said Jasper, smirking.
"Touche."
Carlisle wasn't sure what to do with himself. It wasn't often that he felt out of step these days, but he was truly out of his element on this January afternoon. He was thankful that the invitation had been extended, but maybe they were taking things a little too fast. He had been making sure that none of his children overstepped their boundaries, and this felt like a little too much too soon. Today, he kept to himself, not daring to strike up a conversation with anyone who didn't speak to him first. This was Jacob's birthday party, and he was not here to play diplomat.
No, it was Sam who approached him to talk, to offer him a beer.
"Sure, why not? It's a party, after all," said Carlisle, taking the can of Rainier from him. "Thank you. Not just for the drink, but for inviting us."
Sam shrugged. "I thought it was fitting, after everything that's happened. I can't exactly say that I'm happy with the way things have played out, but… it is what it is, and I'll admit that I shouldn't keep myself so firmly rooted in the past."
Carlisle looked Sam over. He was tall, taller than most of his packmates. His hair was much shorter than the rest of them; Carlisle could tell that it had grown out since he had first cut it. Sam, being the first to phase, immediately shouldered the huge responsibility of becoming the pack's alpha.
Carlisle remembered him in those days. Sam had been fresh out of high school when it happened. When they first met, Carlisle remembered how Sam had tried so hard to put on a tough face, but he could tell that, underneath all the pretenses, he was scared. Sam was 19 then—not quite a man, but not quite a boy, thrust headfirst into the unknown. For a couple of months, he was entirely alone in it, though Jared and Paul phased soon after.
Those first few months of solitude shaped Sam. He was 22 now, though when the light caught him at a certain angle, he looked even older.
"You've done the best you could," said Carlisle.
"There are some things I could've handled better."
"But it's all worked out, and I think that's what matters."
Sam gave him a small smile. "How old are you, Carlisle?"
"Hmm. Three hundred and seventy-something, I believe. Physically, I'm 29."
Sam couldn't decide if he thought that Carlisle looked younger or older than that. It was the way that he spoke, imparting knowledge far beyond his physical years, that gave him the presence of a wizened old man, yet all Sam could see was a young doctor fresh out of medical school. Disorienting, to say the least.
Carlisle had been hardened by time and Sam by experience. One of them would eventually fall out of his role as leader, settle down and live out a worthwhile life to its end. The other would continue on into eternity, no end in sight.
Gifts were starting to pile up on the card table that Emily had set up on the back porch. Jacob felt uncomfortable looking at how many people had brought things for him. He was a simple guy who didn't need much, and he was worried that the Cullens would manage to give him something even more ridiculous than thousands of dollars in cash and a line of credit.
Edward was sitting on a log around the fire pit that Paul was stoking, strumming his guitar along to the tune of the music that Embry was playing, improvising on the provided melodies.
"Play Wonderwall!" called Paul, sneering at the vampire from the other side of the fire.
Edward very quickly flipped him the bird and went back to plucking his tunes. Jacob took a seat beside him, awkwardly close yet still too far away from his imprint. He was never sure how to act around Edward—especially not in front of the entire pack and then some. Part of the reason Jacob was so thrown by this party was that he never expected this many people to come together in his name ever again. A few months earlier, he had been convinced that he would be disowned for his imprinting.
But he hadn't been, and now he was here. Ephraim Black's great grandson, slowly falling in love with one of his mortal enemies.
Emmett offered Edward a beer and, to Jacob's surprise, he turned it down, continuing to focus on his music instead.
"Working on something?" Jacob asked quietly, not wanting to disturb him.
Edward looked up with an expression on his face that was missing flushed cheeks. "Uh, not really. Just… messing around." He stopped playing and scratched the back of his neck.
"Oh. Well, it sounds nice." Jacob twiddled his thumbs.
"Thanks."
They weren't usually this awkward anymore, but Edward was also hitting the roadblock of being too friendly with Jacob in front of all these people. The moment Jacob had sat down next to him, several heads had turned to watch their interaction play out. After exchanging those few words, they sat in silence, apart from each other, while the rest of the party continued to happen around them. Eventually, Quil and Embry came to retrieve Jacob to force him to toss around the ol' pigskin for a bit. People stopped paying so much attention to Edward and he was finally able to relax, if only a little. Perhaps people would pay attention to him for what he was playing, and not the fact that he and Jacob were in a currently undefined relationship.
When the food was done, everyone lined up by the grill with paper plates save for the Cullens, who all made their excuses in one way or another. Edward stayed by the fire pit, strumming along to the music. He had gained a small audience: a few younger kids who had been dragged along to the party, as well as Seth, Collin, and Brady. They were mesmerized by his deft finger movements, how he skillfully plucked the strings in quick succession.
"I wish I could do that…" Seth mumbled, his eyes unable to move from Edward's hands.
"All it takes is practice," said Edward.
"Yeah, but you've had forever."
"You don't need forever. You need a few months, maybe years. You've got time. Seriously, if you want to do it? Give it a try. All it takes is a bit of dedication."
Seth's face lit up. "Thanks, Edward. I will."
"Honestly, I think I have an old guitar lying around that I could give you. Stop by the house some day."
Their conversation was interrupted by not the delicate clinking of a fork against a glass, but the clanging sound of metal tongs on a grill. Everyone's attention turned to Emily and Billy, who were standing by the folding table holding all the condiments.
"We're all here today because of Jacob," said Emily, nodding towards him. The birthday boy was in the middle of shoving half a hotdog in his mouth, and he waved awkwardly. "Most of us have watched him grow up over the years, and grow up he has! Standing before us today is not a boy, but a young man. One who has done so much for his tribe, and for his family." She smiled. "Billy, anything to say?"
Billy seemed as if he hadn't expected to be put on the spot so suddenly. "Uh, um." He cleared his throat. "Jacob… you have been there for me when I needed you the most. I appreciate all that you do for me, and I admit that, sometimes, I wish I could do more for you. You… You've really made me proud, son."
He seemed embarrassed by his own words, and he quickly turned away from the crowd to finish eating his burger.
"Alright! I think Quil is getting the cake ready…?"
She leaned to the side, looking into the house where, surely enough, Quil was walking out, nervously balancing the cake Emily had spent all day baking. She started clapping her hands, and the guests erupted into a typical, droning rendition of "Happy Birthday". Edward played along on his guitar as he sang, throwing in a little flourish for the young ones still listening to him play.
After the cutting of the cake (a delicious butter pecan with cream cheese icing), it was time to open gifts. Jacob received a wide variety of gifts, including some things he never really wanted or needed, but he held a smile and thanked everyone nonetheless. The table of gifts revealed everything from gift cards to enough mechanic's tools for him to open his own shop. Many people in the know got him more clothes, including the Cullens, who had given him one joint gift of several shirts and pairs of pants.
Jacob had not been expecting Edward to get him anything, but he had to admit that he was surprised not to find a gift specifically from him on the table. Perhaps they just hadn't gotten to know each other well enough. He found himself feeling a bit burned, but shook it off—they had both agreed to take things slow and easy. There was no need for this neediness.
The sun had sunk below the horizon, but the party continued, illuminated by strings of lights that had been hung across Emily's backyard. In the cool, winter night, there was a warmth emanating from the people there—and it wasn't just coming from the pack. Jacob finally allowed himself to relax and enjoy the moment. A night off from the daily grind of pack patrols and supernatural bullshit. Something simple, and easy.
He was so relaxed that he didn't notice Edward getting up to whisper in Emily's ear, and he didn't notice them clearing off the back porch, and he didn't notice how it got a little too quiet. He didn't notice until Emily hollered to get everyone's attention again, and he looked up to see Edward Cullen, his imprint, sitting on the steps of the back porch, lightly strumming his guitar, all eyes on him.
"I, uh… I've got one more gift for Jacob," he said so quietly that he almost couldn't be heard. He was clearly very nervous, and very sober.
Edward was still for a moment, a deer frozen in the headlights. Bella gave him a slight nod and a thumbs up, and he took a deep breath before he began plucking the strings of the guitar, playing a quiet intro before he opened his mouth and began to sing.
"I had a thought, dear, however scary, about that night, the bugs and the dirt… Why were you digging? What did you bury before those hands pulled me from the earth?"
Jacob could hear the shaking of his voice, the fear in his tone, but it didn't detract from the quality of his voice, nor the plucking of the strings. Edward was afraid, yes, but he was also talented, and he wouldn't let the skill he had worked so hard to cultivate falter in front of so many people.
"I will not ask you where you came from, I will not ask and neither should you. Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips, we should just kiss like real people do."
He began to tap his foot on the wooden step, keeping time as his playing increased in complexity. Edward looked up from the ground, his eyes meeting Jacob's.
"I knew that look, dear: eyes always seeking, was there in someone that dug long ago. So I will not ask you why you were creeping. In some sad way, I already know."
Jacob was captured by his golden gaze. Edward looked only at him, focusing hard as he continued to play and sing.
"So I will not ask you where you came from, I would not ask and neither would you. Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips, we should just kiss like real people do."
As he continued to play, that hint of fear disappeared. He closed his eyes and felt the rhythm of the song, plucking out the melody, nodding his head, and tapping his foot. No one could say anything. No one could move. They were entranced by his performance, by the sheer intensity of emotion that he was putting into the song.
"I could not ask you where you came from, I could not ask and neither could you. Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips, we could just kiss like real people do."
Edward continued to play out the rest of the song, finally bringing it to a close with a bit of improvisation on the melody. The last few notes of the guitar hung in the night air for a while. Everyone remained silent, allowing them to sink in. Then, the clapping began.
Not everyone applauded. For some people, the sentiment behind the song had been too much, and they held their hands firmly in their laps. But there was applause. Edward stood up, bowed slightly, and quickly exited the "stage". He walked over to the fire pit, where he had lain aside his guitar case, and began packing up his instrument. Jacob walked over and gently laid a hand on his shoulder.
Edward spun around and blurted out, "I need a drink!"
A grin spread across Jacob's face. "Of course. You've definitely earned it." He waved to Embry, who was standing beside the cooler. "Toss me a cold one, bud!"
Embry laughed at the unintentional pun and threw him a PBR, which Jacob cracked open and handed to Edward. Edward took a huge gulp of the beer, exhaled loudly, and leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Jacob's chest.
"That was… a lot," he said.
"Yeah, it was. Uh… Thank you." Jacob gave him an awkward, one-armed hug. "I really liked it," he said quietly, holding Edward against his chest.
Edward remained silent, his eyes wide. He couldn't believe his little stunt had, for the most part, gone over well. Here he was, in Jacob's arms, more comfortable than he had ever been in his entire life. He closed his eyes and reached around Jacob with his free arm to return the hug.
"I'm… really glad. That you liked it."
"Yeah. I really did."
Jacob and Edward sat closer to each other for the rest of the night. A few people gave them funny looks, but some of them had been rather moved by Edward's performance. Somehow, he had simultaneously created more tension while also lessening it.
Neither of them cared very much. Jacob realized that, no matter what, there would probably be one or two people left over who would never accept them. Edward, who could hear their thoughts, understood this even more clearly.
But, as Edward laid his head on Jacob's shoulder, listening to Jared tell some wild story about something that had happened at the resort recently, Jacob locked eyes with Sam, who was standing across the yard, having a conversation with Carlisle and Jasper. Sam held eye contact for a moment, and nodded at Jacob, the slightest hint of a smile gracing his face.
And that was really all Jacob needed to see.
They began cleaning up around ten. Of course, the Cullens offered to help out, still feeling awkward and out of place on the rez. As they were helping pick up trash and carry things back into the house, Jacob pulled Edward over to the side yard, where they couldn't be seen by anyone else.
Jacob pushed him back against the side of the house, both of them standing in shadow.
"Uh, yes?" said Edward, looking up at him.
"Well, you said it, so…"
Before Edward could ask what he meant, Jacob closed the gap between them, pressing their lips together. Like fire and ice. It was different from the rooftop kiss that they had shared a few months prior. That one was abrupt and, honestly, a drunken mistake.
There was a lot of intention here, though. Edward could feel it.
The kiss ended quickly, but not too soon. Jacob's warmth lingered on Edward's lips, as if skin to skin contact was putting life back into his dead body.
"Like real people do," said Jacob, winking, before turning and walking back to help with cleanup.
Edward remained by the side of the house, watching him go, his hand on his mouth.
He felt so warm.
