this is me trying

chapter fourteen: photograph

seth

I knock on the front door of Cade's place, making sure that my knock is loud enough to wake Tatum up if she is sleeping. I don't hear her breathing and I don't see her car, but I am hoping that my eyes and ears are deceiving me. Yet, the door goes unanswered. I peer through the windows before moving to the back of her house.

I know I look like some crazy obsessive stalker. I peak through the back windows and the sliding glass door to see all the lights are off and it appears no one is home for the second day. My stomach drops. "Shit." I whisper in frustration. Where is she?

I hear a wolf whimper in the tree line of Cade's backyard and my head snaps up. "Shut up." I growl at Tyler before stopping into the tree line. I phase, shredding my clothes in the process.

Seth, you need to calm down. Quil's thoughts are the first I hear. I'm sure she is fine. She must have lost her phone or maybe it died.

For two days?! I yell through my thoughts. Oh my gosh. She's dead. My wolf lets out the saddest howl before I sink to the ground, whimpering.

The amber wolf beside me nudges me with its snout. Come on, man. You are jumping to conclusions. Tyler chimes in with his thoughts. We don't know for sure that the vamp got to her.

I growl furiously at the young wolf and jump up just to pin him to the ground with his throat in my mouth. Don't you dare even speak that into existence.

Seth, stand down. My alpha orders me. I immediately obey, settling my body in a lying position with my head down. Tyler, phase out now. Quil and I will handle patrol until Embry and Thomas take over in an hour. I feel Thomas shift out as I settle myself into the dirt and allow myself to wallow in pity. I sent Ness over to check to see if she is at the Locklears and she has Alice tracking her down as we speak.

It wasn't enough to convince me. My heart aches to see my imprint and hold her in my arms. I thought things were going so well between us since the camping trip. We haven't seen each other since our kiss in the parking lot before we went our separate ways. However, we have texted every single night. A couple nights ago, we even facetimed. The texts and video chatting lasted only during the work week and abruptly ended Friday afternoon. Friday afternoon Tatum was radio silent.

I thought possibly that she went out to dinner with her new co-workers and Forks. So I drove around Forks for several hours like a psycho looking for her. I waited for hours for a text that didn't come. Saturday came and went without any form of communication. Nothing.

Had I scared her off? Did she decide to pick up and leave again?

And just to top it all off, the vampire from the mall has been testing our borders. Practically walking the line. What if he got to her?

He didn't get her. Jake snaps me from my dreary thoughts. Vanessa came in contact with his scent just a few hours ago. He is still out there. I doubt he would still be there if he had gotten to Tatum.

My heart still aches at the thought. We don't know that… I stress to my Alpha. Why didn't Vanessa get him? She should have ripped him to shreds. I hear Quil chime in with agreement.

He slipped across the line just as she almost got him. Trust me, she is kicking herself. Jake says as he finally comes into view with me. Now get up. No more moping around. He says nudging me with his nose. I weakly stand, still drained from not knowing what happened to my imprint. But I don't disobey. You should look for Nessie at our place. She will have an update for you. Besides she is making a pack-sized lunch. He says in an attempt to cheer me up. But it doesn't work.

Thank goodness! I'm starving! Thomas cheers, having just phased.

You will have to wait until later. Nessie will save you and Embry some after your patrol shift. Jake reminds him. Thomas lets out a weak whine. Go on, Seth. I will meet you there.

I begin a light trot toward Nessie and Jake's place. It doesn't take me long even at the slow rate that I am going. I hear Jake fill Thomas in on the events that have gone on today. I shift back before I get to hear it all. "Shit." I grumble as I realize I shredded my clothes at Cade's place. "Ness, uh, do you have extra clothes?" I call out loud enough for her hybrid hearing to hear. I hear chuckling within the log cabin and I roll my eyes. The door opens and Kai, one of the newer pack members, throws clothes out to me.

"What? Are you reverting back to being a pup?" He teases before leaving me to change into clothes. I knew he was just teasing but it didn't help that I am already upset because of Tatum. Kai was just using a long term joke that the pack used whenever someone shreds their clothes during phasing. It was a phrase often referred to being a new wolf.

I slip on the shorts before climbing up the stairs and entering the cabin. "There he is! The pup!" Vanessa calls out as soon as I enter the house. All the other wolves begin hooting and hollering. I roll my eyes and ignore the teasing. My eyes immediately look to Ness, pleading with her to tell me what she has heard.

"Guys, leave him alone." Ness chastises the others. "He's had a rough past couple of days." She hands me a beer and ushers me into a seat. "Lunch will be ready shortly." Ness informs me as she scurries back into the kitchen to tend to the food.

"What did the Locklears have to say?" I question.

"They haven't seen or talked to her in a few days." Ness says softly. I already knew the answer. I went and asked her mom yesterday. But still, I needed to hear it again for clarity.

"And Alice?" I ask. It was my last hope.

Nessie sighs and looks over her shoulder to me. "She saw her in Seattle. But according to Alice, her thoughts are all over the place. She can't keep a single plan confirmed. Her future is not precise enough to predict." Ness answers truthfully.

I groan audibly and squeeze the bridge of my nose. I feel someone clap my shoulder before giving it a squeeze. "Man, it's all going to work out. I'm sure she'll be heading back to La Push shortly." Brady says. I'm not as confident as he is.

"Seth, you have to remember that she feels the imprint too." Ness pipes in. "Just like you can't stand to be away from her, she can't stand to stay away from you either. She will be back."

I ponder on the idea of that. Could imprints really feel the imprint? I wasn't sure about that. But I can hope. Anything to bring Tatum back.

Jake and Quil arrive just in time for lunch to be served. But as wonderful as the food smelt, I could only eat a few bites. I completely ignore the conversations between my pack mates. My mind is a million miles away.

It isn't until my phone vibrates against the wood table top. All eyes look at me. I look down and immediately jump up and move to the other room. "Tatum." I breathe out in relief as I answer the phone.

"Seth, hi!" Tatum says casually as if she hadn't been MIA for the past three days.

"Are you okay? I haven't been able to contact you. I thought something might be wrong." I say, trying no to sound as concerned as I really am. If I showed how concerned I really was, I might freak her out.

"Oh, sorry about that. My phone died on the drive up to Seattle and of course, I forgot my phone charger at home. I wasn't able to buy a charger until today." Tatum explains. "Sorry if I worried you." Worried me? More like gave me a freaking heart attack. "Anyways, I was wondering if you were busy tonight?"

Busy? Never for her. "No, totally free." I assure her.

"Awesome. Do you think you could do me a favor? I need your muscles." Tatum says, I can hear the patter of raindrops against her windshield. "I'm on my way back from Seattle. I got all my things from storage. I think it's about time to make the place truly feel like mine. I would love for you to help."

It starts to make sense. I remember her telling me about her stuff being in a storage unit. I just wish she would have told me that she was heading up to Seattle. I would have kept her company. "I will be there." I assure her. "What time will you be back?"

"The GPS says in two hours." Tatum responds. "Do you wanna just order pizza for dinner? I've missed you." My heart skips a beat. At least she missed me just like I missed her.

"Sounds perfect. I missed you too." I say. "I will be there at your place, waiting."

"Okay. I can't wait to see you." Tatum says happily.

"Me too. Please drive safe." I say before we both say our goodbyes.

When I enter back into the room, all eyes are on me. "Is she okay?" Nessie asks immediately.

I smile with relief. "Yes, she's fine. She's on her way back home. She will be back in two hours."

"Now are you finally going to relax?" Vanessa asks with a smirk on her lips. The other pack members start going on about how they knew Tatum was fine and how much I overreacted. I roll my eyes and get back to eating my meal.

The rest of lunch I feel light as a feather now that I knew where Tatum was and knew that she was safe. I help Nessie and Jake clean up the mess from lunch while some of the others begin wrestling in the backyard. "I made extra cupcakes." Nessie says as she packages them up in a container. "You should take some to Tatum."

I nod my head. "I'm sure she will enjoy it." I comment as I accept the container.

Nessie pulls me in for a hug. I'm happy that she is safe. She tells me through her palm. I smile grateful for my Alpha's imprint and friend. "Now, go clean up." Nessie says as she pushes me away from her playfully. "You smell like a sad wolf." She giggles.

I laugh. "I will. Thank you for lunch." I say as I head out the front door. "Bye guys!" I call out to the guys in the backyard. I hear grumbles of goodbyes before I move into the woods and strip to phase.

The run back to my apartment is relaxing as I think of my imprint just being an hour away. Once in my apartment, I shower, shave, and dress in clean clothes. I make sure to grab Nessie's cupcakes before climbing into the car.

I make a quick stop at my mom and Charlie's place. My mom is totally surprised when she opens the door. "Seth, honey, is everything okay?" My mom asks as she ushers me into the house.

"I was wondering if you still had that picture." I say as I walk into the house. "Hi Charlie." I greet my step father who grunts in return. I walk over to the picture frame, knowing exactly where it's at. "You do." I say as I pick it up.

"I love that photo." My mom says as she peers around me. We both look down at the picture frame within my hands. It was a picture of the Locklear kids, Leah, and I on the beach together many years ago.

"Do you have another copy of it?" I ask, looking at her.

My mom purses her lips and shakes her head. "I have a different photo though." She says as she disappears into the other room. I wait patiently for her to return and when she does she is holding another photo out for me. I grasp the photograph in my hand.

It's a photo from the same day as the previous photo. But it is just Tatum, Cade, and I. Tatum with her little pigtails was sitting on a piece of driftwood on the beach with Cade. I was sitting on the sand. The three of us each had ice cream cones. Ice cream smeared across all of our faces.

"How old was I?" I ask, looking up to my mom.

"Four, I believe." My mom smiles fondly.

I hold the photo up. "Can I have this?" I ask. "I wanted to bring Tatum a gift. She is finally starting to decorate the house and get rid of some of Cade's things. I remembered that photo." I say motioning to the first photo. "But I think this is better."

"Of course, honey." My mom says warmly. "I think she will love it. I think I have an extra frame laying around somewhere." My mom disappears down the hall again. I look down and study the photo while she is gone. She reappears with a simple wooden frame. "This will work perfectly."

"Are you sure you don't mind?" I question as my mom puts the picture into the frame.

"I would rather it get some use then sitting in a dusty box." My mom assures me. "I have plenty of pictures. Tatum will get better use of this then I will."

"Thank you." I say when she hands me the frame.

My mom wraps me up into a hug. "You're welcome, sweetheart. I'm glad I got to see you." She says happily. "Are you heading to Tatum's place?"

I nod my head. "She is coming back from Seattle with all of her things from her storage unit. She should be back in twenty or thirty minutes." I say as I look down at my phone for the time.

My mom smiles. "I'm so happy that you have her." Her voice clearly held a tone of joy. "You will have to bring her by some time. I haven't seen her in awhile since the two of you didn't show up for dinner several weeks ago." She teases.

I chuckle. "I will." I promise. "I should head out. I promised Tatum I would be there as soon as she got back."

"Bye, honey." My mom says, hugging me again.

I say a quick goodbye to Charlie on my way out. When I climb in my truck, I carefully put the frame on the floorboard to make sure it doesn't fall while driving. I start my truck up before heading toward Cade's house.

When I pull up to the house, it is still dark and Tatum hasn't arrived yet. I take a minute to think things over. My thoughts are mainly consumed of Tatum, of course. It isn't too long until Tatum pulls up with her car full of things.

I immediately hop out of the truck so relieved to see her. Tatum climbs out of her car and turns to face me with a wide grin on her face. I close the distance between us and Tatum instantly throws her arms around me. "Long time, no see, stranger." She jokes.

I lean down and press my lips to hers. Any weight that I felt from being away from my imprint is lifted off of my shoulders. "I missed you." I say, pulling back from her lips.

Tatum's green eyes twinkle up at me. "I missed you, too." Unfortunately, she removes her arms from around me and takes a step back. "Are you ready to be busy for the next couple of hours?" She says as she motions to the car packed full.

"I have something for you first." I say as I move back to my truck. I climb in and reach for the framed picture on the floorboard. Tatum meets me at my car door. I turn and hand her the gift that I retrieved from my mom's place just a short while ago.

Tatum grasps the frame and her eyes scan over the picture. "W-Where did you find this?" She chokes out after looking it over. Her eyes don't look up to mine, but I know they are glassy with tears.

"My mom had it." I answer, worried that I have done the wrong thing by bringing this here. Maybe I am opening up old wounds by bringing this. "I thought you might like to add it with your things."

Tatum's green eyes look up to me just as a tear slips from the corner of her eye. She furiously wipes it away. "I love it." She says as she pulls me in for a kiss. "How old are we? I don't remember this." She asks as she looks back to the photo.

"My mom said I was four. So you were six." I comment, looking at the photo again.

Tatum runs a finger over the glass. "This is a perfect addition. I'm really glad you brought this." She says, giving me a smile.

"Are you ready to get started unpacking?" I ask after a moment of silence between us.

Tatum nods her head, looking up from the picture. She grabs my hand and leads me to the car. "Just warning you, there is a lot." She says with a wary look.

I give her hand a squeeze of reassurance. "I don't have anywhere else I need to be."

Hi guys! I hope you are doing well. Leave reviews and make sure to follow and favorite this story. xx M