"I pity you" Leah says and looks at me.
"Leah!" Embry says
"What? Jacob hates her and she didn't get to choose this"
"What?" I ask
"Leah, it's enough" Sam says sternly.
I don't understand. Jacob hates me? Why?
"What do you mean? Leah?" I ask again.
"She doesn't know yet? Good for her" She says and turns around
"Seth I am going home" She calls for her little brother. Seth looks conflicted but eventually gets up and follows his sister. He gives me a quick hug before he leaves.
Emily sighs and Jared gives me a concerned look.
I turn to Embry.
"What was that? I don't understand" I ask him.
He sighs and looks at Sam. Sam looks conflicted. It's quiet, everyone waits for him.
"Don't mind that, let's continue eating"
And just like that, everyone continues and the garden is filled with chatter again.
"But" I start and look at Embry.
"Don't you worry, we will talk about this later" He reassures me.
"I hope so" I say and look down.
As the night gets to an end I turn to Emily and hug her.
"Thank you so much for having me and your house is beautiful!"
"Oh thank you honey! I hope I get to see your soon again"
I look at Sam, I don't think he will appreciate a hug so I just nod to him
"Thank you for having me, goodbye Sam"
"Goodbye Stephanie, see you"
Embry drives me home and fills the car with light hearted conversation. As we get to the Ateara house I sigh and turn to him.
"I need you to tell me what´s going on, I am not stupid"
Embry sighs and looks out of the window.
"It's not my place to tell"
"Who can tell me then?"
"Jacob. Ultimately it´s Sam´s decision but Jacob, he can tell you"
"Jacob?"
He nods.
"Well Jacob doesn't seem to want to talk to me. I don't understand why though, we have always been friends" I mutter and try not to show that I am hurt.
"Jacob is just going through a hard time Steph, I know that he doesn't want to hurt you" Embry says and looks at me with compassion.
I nod.
"Thank you for driving me home Embry, and for making me feel like home here". He smiles and I get out of the car. Just as I am about to shut the door he voices up.
"You belong here Stephanie, don't forget that"
As I wake up the next day the rain is pouring. I follow aunt Abby to the grocery store and then we get back home again. The rain has gone from pouring to trickling and I suddenly get an idea.
I walk down the stairs and meet Abby.
"I am going out for a walk!"
She hesitates.
"But it's raining?"
"I´ll bring an umbrella, it's fine!"
"Okay, just stay out of the woods"
I walk out of the house and walk in the direction I am going. I am going to visit the Clearwaters, more precisely, I want to talk to Leah Clearwater. I am not a hundred percent sure that I know the way to their house but I have a clue about where I´m going. I follow the big road and then follow a smaller trail that I recognize. I stay out of the woods just as I promised my aunt.
Suddenly their house is right in front of me.
I take a deep breath and then I knock on the door. It only takes a couple of seconds until the door is opened.
"Josephine!"
"Oh hi Sue!" I say and she gives me a warm hug. I love Sue. She is a nurse and incredibly kind and wise. She sits in the elderly council along with my grandfather and Billy Black, she took the role as her husband passed away a couple of months ago.
"I am so sorry about Harry. How are you doing?" I ask kindly.
"Thank you dear. We are holding up"
"But please, come inside" Sue says and steps aside as a gesture for me to walk in the house.
"Thank you. I was actually wondering if Leah is at home?"
Sue looks at me wondering. Leah and I have never been close.
"She is in her room down the hall. I don't know if she is busy though, but go and try" She says and smiles towards me. I nod. I am going to give it a try. I knock on her door.
"What?" A voice calls out from inside the room.
I open the door carefully and peek inside.
"Hi Leah"
"Stephanie? What are you doing here?"
She doesn't look happy.
"I need to talk to you, please Leah"
It takes a bit of resistance but then the two of us are sitting under a shed in their backyard.
"Why are you here?" Leah asks.
"Come on Leah, you can't just drop a bomb like that yesterday and expect me not to ask questions"
"Well I can't tell you"
"Because Sam says so?"
Leah looks at me.
"You are smarter than you look"
I lift my eyebrow.
"What's happening with Jacob?" I ask.
Leah sighs.
"I said, I am not allowed to tell you. Sam was not happy with me for the things I said yesterday."
"You don't need to tell me everything then, tell me what you can"
She stays quiet for a couple of minutes.
"It's about Bella"
"Bella?"
"Isabella Swan, Chief Swans daughter. You remember her?"
I nod, I remember her vaguely. She was also here during some of the summers I spent here.
"He is in love with her. He has been for a while now, they were almost a couple but then her boyfriend came back. Jaoob loves her as much as he hates her boyfriend, Edward Cullen. Jacob loves Bella and he still fights for her, he is being an idiot if you ask me."
"But what does this have to do with me? Why do you pity me?"
"That I can't tell you"
As I am walking back from the Clearwaters I am still not a hundred percent satisfied with what Lead could tell me but now I at least know a bit more. The rain has stopped now and I decide to take another way back by the first beach. As I am walking I suddenly spot someone that make my breath hitch. It´s Jacob Black. The guy I have known my entire life as a friend who had to be dragged away upon seeing me. In a moment of bravery I decide to confront him.
"Jacob!"
He turns around and meets my eyes. Once again his eyes show all kinds of conflicted emotions but then he looks angry. Incredibly angry.
"What are you doing here? Have you been in the woods? It's dangerous there!"
I am shocked. We haven't spoken to each other since I came here and this is the first thing he says to me.
"Hi to you too Jacob. And no I haven't been in the woods"
He avoids looking at my face.
"What's happening Jacob? I thought we were friends? Why are you angry with me?"
"We were friends. But now everything is ruined"
"How? Why""
"Because YOU came here and ruined everything. I don't want this!"
I am taken aback by his words and for the way he is screaming at me.
"You don't want what? What have I done? Tell me!" I am raising my voice too now.
"I am not gonna tell you anything, you are not my responsibility"
He stands with his arms crossed. I first now realize that he is not wearing a shirt.
"Is this about Bella?"
His head snaps up.
"Don't you ever talk about her!"
Then it's happening again. Jacob starts to shake from head to toe. I am stepping back. He breathes heavily. It is just like the day on the beach, only this time no one's here to drag him away. The shakings increase and as he is walking away from me something unbelievable happens. Where Jacob was standing there now stands a tall and big wolf in his place. I can't breathe. Suddenly everything turns black.