YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! Thank you again, and again, and again for all the favorites, follows, and reviews. I'm totally overwhelmed by the interest in this story already, and I'm so excited to continue to share it. I've been sitting on the idea of a Jared fic for a long time, and I just felt like now was perfect, so I'm so happy you're all enjoying! Thank you again! Enjoy :)
III. Lady Luck
To say that she was surprised when Jared Cameron started texting her would've been an understatement.
She was laying in her bed, calculus homework completed beside her, pine candle lit once more- she couldn't remember liking that scent as much as she had in the last week. Her mind was roaming about the Pacific NorthWest, planning her next picture-taking adventure for her blossoming blog and how she might convince Kim to bring her.
Hey! Nina? It's Jared :p
She raised an eyebrow at the text, rolling onto her stomach to stare at the screen a little harder. A smile threatened to emerge.
Yeah, hey!
They had been assigned their English project that day. Two weeks of group work.
What's up?
When did you wanna start working on the project?
How about tm? Right after school?
Sure!
:)
She stared at the screen once more, her heart miraculously thudding in her chest to a strange beat. With one more lingering grin at it, she flipped the phone shut and dropped it back onto her nightstand.
And as the final bell rang the following afternoon, that strange beat of her heart had returned. She had told Kim at lunch, guilt dropping with each word, that she wouldn't need a ride home from school- she knew Kim would've killed to be in her position, and she wished with all her might that she could've swapped places with her.
Jared was at her desk in an instant, grabbing at her English book and handing it to her with a cheeky grin. She chuckled at him and took it, jamming it into her bag before tossing it over her shoulder.
They walked through the hallway together, and Nina was struck by the stares as they passed. She realized, as they went, that Jared interacted sparsely with anyone, really, since his miraculous disappearance and return to school. When she glanced up to look at him, his eyes were already on her.
"Where are we headed? Your place?" She asked, looking back up at him.
"Kinda, uh," he chuckled, "it's a friends house, but it's like my own," he shrugged. She smirked slightly as she nodded- she knew the feeling.
"Sorry about the walk," he spoke again, "I get motion sick, so driving isn't really my thing."
She chuckled that time and shrugged lightheartedly, "No complaints here, I don't drive either."
They continued walking and talking, and she grew pleasantly surprised at the way conversation began to flow easily. She tried to imagine Kim being lighthearted and playful in the same way that they were, but it just didn't click in her head. She nearly frowned at the thought.
"Alright, I've got one: plans for after graduation?"
Jared's voice broke through her fog, and she turned to look at him, perplexed by the pure curiosity on his face. It nearly took her back, and she raised both eyebrows as she brought her eyes back to her shoes on the blacktop.
"Wow, huh…" she murmured, pursing her lips and looking ahead of them. "I'm thinking of becoming a travel blogger, uhm, exploring the world and posting pictures and stories about it."
"Traveling the world?" His voice raised an octave.
She chuckled and nodded, eyes suddenly glowing, "Crazy, right? I hadn't even heard of it until I met with Mrs. Darah, and she told me about it, and I just can't get it out of my head," she shrugged, glancing at him quickly to find his eyes still on her, eyes pooling with… something.
"That's incredible," he finally spoke, shaking his head slightly, "really, really incredible…"
"I'm definitely gonna have to up my exploring game if I want to get there, but," she shrugged casually, her words trailing off. They neared a dirt driveway, and Jared gestured with his hands, a sweeping motion for her to go first.
"Wow, what a gentleman," she muttered, chuckling. Jared laughed as he followed, exaggeratedly patting himself on the back. A small cabin came into view, the front porch loitered with potted plants and handmade vases and pots, windchimes swinging and singing into the breeze.
"Well, I'm always down for a good exploration, if you ever need a partner."
She looked at him curiously, searching his face for something she wasn't even sure of, but he stared back with honesty- and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. But she smiled and nodded before turning back to the house.
"Who's house is this?" She stared admiringly at the building, intrigued by the sense of home that seemed to linger about it.
"Emily Young's, she's uh… her and Sam are together, her place is kinda just our central hub."
Nina looked at him questioningly for a moment, and she began to feel uncertain about going further with the plan, but then the screen door was opening and a beautiful woman was emerging, arms held wide.
"There you two are!" She chimed, hopping down the steps and casually pulling Nina into a hug, "you must be Nina, it's so nice to meet you."
She had only a moment to accept the embrace before the woman was pulling back, her beautiful face smiling brightly as she rubbed a tender hand against her arm.
"I'm Emily, welcome," she gestured at the home behind her, practically glowing with pride.
Nina smiled at her, endeared, "Thank you, really-"
Emily waved her hand, "No, no, don't even worry about it," she turned and began leading them up the front steps, "I love having people over. Consider this a revolving door," she opened the screen door and smiled back at her, "you're always welcome here."
A warmth spread through Nina's chest, and though apprehensive, she entered the home behind her and soaked in the atmosphere, immediately appreciating Emily's invitation. A small part of her wished that offer wouldn't run out after she and Jared had finished their project.
"I'm making lunch, it should be ready soon! I'm sure you two are hungry," Emily chuckled, picking up a wooden spoon and pointing it at Jared, "I know he definitely is."
Jared blushed slightly but laughed, shrugging, "What can I say?"
He settled down at the table, plopping his backpack on top of it with a thud, and Nina followed his lead and joined him. They had only just highlighted useful sections from their respective articles when Emily announced that lunch was ready, and then they were clearing off the table, and Nina's stomach was growling at the thought of real, homemade food.
"I hope you like buffalo chicken…" Emily said, placing the plate of wraps in the middle of the table, "I know him and Sam do," she chuckled lightly.
"Yeah, yes, of course," Nina smiled at her, her eyes lingering on Emily's pretty face, her mind still trying to wrap itself around her warmth and hospitality. She was just sitting to join them when the screen door opened, a man stepping in with such size and authority that Nina was taken back.
"There you are," Emily chimed, standing back up and meeting him halfway. His arms snaked around her and pulled her close, and Nina looked away with warmth in her cheeks. When she looked back up, Jared's eyes were on her again.
"Sam," Jared looked back at him, "this is Nina Nash," he gestured towards her, and she offered a lame wave, mind lingering on the wink that Jared shot at him when he introduced her.
"Nice to meet you, Nina, I'm Sam."
He quickly joined them at the table, and they began eating, and Nina was pleasantly surprised- once again- with how easily the four of them were able to speak and laugh with one another. Any worries from before were washed away as they spoke like old friends.
"So Nina," Emily began, setting down her wrap, "I wasn't sure who Jared was talking about when he mentioned you… who are your parents?"
The question itself was friendly, and it was clear Emily meant it with no malice, but Nina found herself pressing her lips into a thin line and sighing as she thought of a response.
"Uhm," she regained her composure, sitting up straighter in her seat, "my dad wasn't Quileute, he was just some guy from Seattle…" she shrugged, though she knew it looked forced, "my mom doesn't really have any more family here, she's Marion Reed."
Emily sat thoughtfully for a moment, lips pursing to the side, "I don't think I know her, I'm sorry," she thought for another moment, "but I'm from the Makah reservation, I'm not familiar with everyone here yet." She smiled kindly at Nina, and she couldn't help but return the gesture.
"It's fine, she's not involved in much of anything," Nina tucked her eyes back to her plate as she spoke, wishing she had a different answer. She hated speaking of her, she hated associating herself with her, and she hated the very fact that she was all she had. She swallowed hard and pushed the hatred away, picking up her wrap and taking another bite.
"You've lived here your whole life, though?" Sam asked. She was intrigued by the depth of his voice, and as he spoke, she noticed Jared's eyes trained faithfully on her, waiting for her response.
"No, I uh, I actually didn't live here for a couple years around middle school… we were a little everywhere for a while."
"Where were you?" Jared asked, his food somehow forgotten on his plate, his head tilted slightly to the side.
"Canada for most of it, mostly Vancouver."
"Is that why you like pictures so much?"
She nearly blushed but nodded instead, "It was definitely an inspiration."
Lunch was finished, and though Nina offered her assistance with dishes, Emily had brushed her off with a waving of her hand.
Their work suddenly abandoned, Nina found herself being led to the beach, Jared chattering and cracking jokes as they went. When they reached the beach itself, she kicked off her converse and crinkled her toes into the sand, absentmindedly grinning as she wiggled her feet deeper in. Her eyes gazed across the ocean adoringly, and when she looked beside herself, she was at a loss as to why Jared was staring at her instead of the water before them.
"You liked Vancouver, huh?" He asked as they neared the water. She raised an eyebrow at him. "You just seemed happier when you talked about it," he shrugged.
She pondered his response, eyes dropping to her feet as they reached the water, stepping forward enough to submerge her toes in the frosty waves.
"My dad was still around, showing me how to work the camera- the best angles, easiest settings," she shrugged casually. "I didn't really want to leave, but I don't know if that had much to do with Vancouver itself or just that point in life."
Her eyes were fixated on her white toenails beneath the surface of the water, and by that point in the day, she didn't need to look to know that Jared was watching her- it should've made her more uncomfortable than it was.
When she finally looked back up at him, her belief was confirmed, and he offered her a lazy grin.
"Your eyes are the same color as the water."
She narrowed them at him, a grin snaking its way onto her lips.
"It's those dirty foreigner genes of mine," she chuckled darkly, the edges of her lips creeping upwards.
Jared laughed, a sort of distance in his eyes as he spoke- as if speaking an inside joke, "There are worse genes to be stuck with."
She stared at him for a moment, trying to grasp what he was getting at. But he looked at her with a sly smile and shook his head, starting down the edge of the shore again. She followed alongside, absentmindedly gazing at his profile as they went; she couldn't help but notice that he was quite handsome. Russet skin, smooth- like Kim's- without any evidence of a freckle or imperfection, and a strong jawline that contrasted the childlike roundness of his cheeks. She could see where Kim had found him attractive all those years.
Her cheeks began to burn the moment the thought passed through her mind, and that familiar chunk of dry guilt lodged itself back in the base of her throat- she nearly choked on it.
"Why'd you come back?"
"What?"
They stopped walking again, and that same, familiar look of childlike curiosity was painting Jared's features.
"You said you didn't want to leave Vancouver, but you're here now, so clearly…" he chuckled nervously.
"You're awfully curious, huh?" She lifted her jaw upwards as she turned to face the ocean again, allowing herself to get lost within the waves for a moment. When she looked back at Jared, he was still patiently waiting for an answer.
"Stuff happened," she shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable beneath his inquisitive eyes, her feet wiggling into the damp sand. It was unoften that she was the first to break eye-contact in any situation, but the intensity of his stare reminded her of her own, and that in itself was alarming.
They had fallen silent, and she finally swallowed down whatever she was feeling and looked back up at his face, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
"Why are you so nosy?"
Jared's face morphed from sullen to amused in a second, and he tilted his head slightly with his smile, "Nosy?" he asked, bringing a hand to rest above his heart, he scoffed playfully, "I'm just trying to get to know my new friend."
The word sounded strange as it fell off his lips, and she found herself cocking her head slightly, "Friend?"
Jared's eyes narrowed, "Yeah, friend, we're friends," he chuckled lightheartedly.
"We are?"
They were still standing still along the shore, facing one another. Nina had to tilt her chin upwards to meet his eyes, which were ever-intense, despite his carefree nature. She was trying to maintain a smirk, but the lightness of his presence proved to be a worthy opponent.
He smiled, one side twisting upwards further than the other, "Don't be crazy, of course we're friends." With the shrug of a shoulder, he was casually tossing an arm over her shoulders and pulling her back along the beach.
The heat radiating off of him startled her, along with the sudden contact in itself. As if the wind simply ceased to move, she was suddenly entrapped within a barrier of warmth, confusion and a strange sense of wellness muddying the waters of her thoughts. Her throat dried up once more as they went.
Despite her protests, Jared had insisted on walking her home that evening, and her heart violently ricocheted throughout her ribcage at the very thought of her mother catching sight of him. She had long lost the steady coolness that she prided herself on maintaining, and her palms were sweaty as the outline of the house came into view.
"This is it," she mumbled, stopping at the top of the driveway, placing herself between him and the dirt path.
"Oh come on," he chuckled, "you've gotta let me walk you up," he stared at her playfully, and she wished his smile didn't make her want to smile back.
"No really," she pursed her lips, "I can handle it from here."
They stared at one another, both seemingly refusing to be the first to break eye-contact and therefore back down from the challenge. She could practically feel a nosy pair of eyes peering out from the window above the sink- she prayed those eyes were already passed out for the night and that she was just paranoid.
With a sigh and a slight slouch of his broad shoulders, Jared accepted defeat. "Alright," he pointed a finger at her, "I won't walk you up tonight," she raised an eyebrow as he continued, "but when I take you out on a date, you're not gonna be able to stop me."
She felt the heat tear up her throat and across her face in an instant, and her lips parted slightly as the implication of those words sunk in.
"On a date?"
He smiled, and her heart had reinstated its ricochet motion.
"Yeah!" His face softened, "Let's go on a date."
The ball in her throat felt as though it'd suffocate the words before they could even form themselves, and her voice betrayed her when it did find its way out.
"I can't do that," she pulled her top lip in between her teeth and forced herself to look away from his face before she could see his response, opting to stare at the kitchen window in search of an unwanted audience.
"But…" Jared shook his head slightly, "you don't want to?"
She could sense the intensity of his stare on the side of her face and swallowed hard, attempting to rid her airway of the cotton balls that had settled into it, "I can't do that to…" she shook her head, the thought of embarrassing Kim in that moment proving just as hard to force out, "I just can't."
The evening around them seemed dangerously quiet.
She shut her eyes for a moment and exhaled, hoisting her bag back up on her shoulder before turning her head back in his direction. She raised her chin but couldn't force herself to meet his eyes.
"We can work on the research more tomorrow during free period," she offered, her voice a mere mumble, void of anything that might give her away.
"Yeah, uh…" Jared nodded slowly, coming back to himself, "okay. I'll see you then."
His hand reached outwards just slightly, and she watched as his fingers twitched before he dropped it back to his side and they clenched themselves together.
With that, she turned and started down the path to the front steps, fighting the urge to look back over her shoulder and see if he was still there. When she shut the door behind her, she was sure she felt his eyes lingering on her back.