M I S T A K E N

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or any of the characters.

Nothing much to say – please enjoy the read.

3) heritage )

"My brother should be asleep," I told him as I wiped the mud from inside the Baby. I closed the car door and rubbed the smear Jacob's nose had left on the window away. I closed the garage door and hurried up the stairs that led to the mud room, a room for dumping book bags, coats, shoes and groceries before actually entering the house. I hurried into the kitchen and took the sticky not off of the fridge and stuck it in my pocket. I turned around to see Jacob standing in front of the sink, looking out of place.

"Pants, right. C'mon."

He followed me as I walked down the hall to the laundry room. I opened the drier and pulled out a pair of sweats and a tee shirt. "I do my brother's laundry," I explained, rolling my eyes. "He won't notice if anything's missing."

"Thanks," Jacob mumbled, taking the clothes. He stared at me and I suddenly became the uncomfortable one. I started towards the door, feeling he may want some privacy.

"Are you hungry? I was going to make some eggs, but I don't mind making extra. I just hope you don't care about eating in the basement. I'm not sure how my brother will take to big strangers."

"Uh, sure," Jacob pulled the shirt over his head.

I nodded, closing the door behind me. I proceeded to make breakfast, setting some out for my brother, despite the fact that he wouldn't wake for a few more hours. I turned around, about to put the plates on a tray when I saw Jacob staring at me. I gasped.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine," I pulled two glasses from the cupboard. "Do you mind getting the orange juice? The milk spoiled…Or I could make coffee. Personally, I hate the stuff but-"

"OJ's fine."

I started towards the basement, well aware of Jacob following me. I was sweating within seconds.

I set down the food on the bar my father had installed to go with his home theater and turned on the lights. Jacob took his plate and sat down on the couch. I sat beside him, feeling like a dwarf even though I was a good 5' 11'.

"I should explain."

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

"It'd…make me feel better."

I shrugged, my fork scraping against my plate. "Then go ahead."

Jacob studied me. I was chewing on my thumbnail, my nostrils flared. My leg was shaking, a habit. I could tell by his face that he wanted to ask me if I was okay. Instead, he started his story. I listened intently, not asking any questions, nodding in understanding when I felt I indeed understood. I even patted his shoulder when he spoke of Bella and Edward, his voice vibrating with emotions, his words holding so much soul that it seemed possible that they could cry.

I watched him as he spoke of his past two weeks living in the forest where I had found him. When he finished, he dug into his meal.

"Whoa." Hours had passed, and I wasn't aware of it. I put down my cold food and turned my entire body to face him.

"Yeah," Jacob sighed. "Whoa would be a good way to summarize it all."

"Do they where you are?"

"Maybe. I mean, I tuned them out after a while."

"You should go back home. I mean, I don't know what you're going through exactly, I've never loved anyone. I'm sure it's bound to worse all secluded. Besides, you never imprinted on Bella, so…"

"So…?"

"Don't keep the lucky girl waiting. She'd be back home, right?"

"Sure, I guess… If I even imprint."

"Well, I didn't mean to get you all depressed."

"No, it's fine. Ask or say whatever you want. I just didn't think you'd willingly accept everything I said."

"You're not lying, I can tell."

"Really?"

I turned my head, biting my lip. My eyes were wet and I tried to hide my expression.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just thinking about life."

"Life?"

"It sucks," I muttered. When I saw Jacob stiffen, I winced. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I'll learn to get used to it."

"Mmhmm. At least she's still alive, in a sense. She won't rot like my Grandpa."

"Oh, I had no idea… Sorry."

"It's fine," I murmured. Jacob smiled, watching me as I relaxed.

"Ari!"

"In the basement, Aki!" I shouted back. Jacob stood. "It's fine. He probably wants to tell me he's leaving."

"I'm leaving! See you later!"

"Bye!"

Jacob sat back on the couch, rubbing his face. "So…"

I stared at him as he stared at me.

I was starting to believe my grandfather's stories.

Here was an absolute stranger in my house - a big stranger, I might add – wearing my brother's pants and staring at me as if I had grown two heads. He didn't look the least bit creeped out, but rather perplexed, confused, and amazed all at the same time.

I'm sure I had the same expression on my face. But hey – it hadn't even three thirty AM when I had arrived back home. Lack of sleep did things to people – like made them crazy enough to invite random people into their homes, giants who just happened to be werewolves.

"Jacob," I finally exhaled, inching away from him.

He blinked, shaking his head and giving a slow smile. It was bright against his skin – I figured I had the same smile.

"Sorry about that. I don't know what came over me."

I nodded, folding my hands in my lap. "So?"

"So what?"

He had explained everything to me. Everything I had asked had been answered. I turned to face him completely, a thought in my head. "My grandfather used to live on the La Push reservation – he was a Native American, I'm not exactly sure if you can tell – since I'm not one hundred percent. He moved for some reason or another. He and my grandmother moved to New York."

Jacob blinked again, his mouth parted slightly. "What were your grandparents' names, again?"

"Elijah Moon and Raine Moon - my grandmother's maiden name was Cape," I pursed my lips in thought. "My grandpa would tell me all these stories, but I never thought they could be true. Imagine! He told me that no matter what; I shouldn't ever go to La Push. It was like he hated this pack of yours, or something."

I watched Jacob intently, ready to pounce on any theory he produced and run with it. Jacob merely shrugged.

"It's possible he had a feeling the vampires would return soon… He could have just wanted to, you know, stop you from becoming a member of the pack. Your mother, too, that could be why your grandparents moved."

"This could explain the milk…"

"What?" He laughed, confused.

"A couple of hours ago my parents left to fly to New York for my grandfather's funeral. My mother was trying to tell me something about rotten milk, but the taxi was here, so she had to leave. I smelt it – through the refrigerator! It should have spoiled next week," I wrinkled my nose. "Is it possible the supermarket sells spoiled goods?"

Jacob looked intrigued. He leaned forward, his nostrils flaring. He nodded, as if he had answered a question that had popped up in his mind. "What about fevers? Anything unusual about your temperature?"

I cocked my head, trying to think. "Well, I've never really had a fever. I mean, I know Aki hates sitting next to either mom or me on the couch, but I always thought that was because he was Aki… Wait, I'll get a thermometer."

I quickly went upstairs and into the guest bathroom. I opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed the thermometer from the shelf. I closed the cabinet and ran back downstairs, plopping down on the couch. Jacob laughed, entertained.

"What's so funny?" I mumbled before I put the thermometer under my tongue.

"You just seem…excited. I was devastated when I found out I was a werewolf."

"Really?" I clamped my mouth shut, waiting out the ten minutes in silence. I could feel Jacob's stare, but ignored it, rocking back and forth.

I finally pulled the thermometer out and showed it to Jacob. He whistled.

"I'm impressed, one hundred and four. No one's said anything?"

"No one but Aki."

"Your brother."

"Older brother."

Jacob rubbed his chin. "Nothing weird going on with him, right?"

"He's adopted," I offered. "My uncle died when he was young and my father adopted him since his mother was in no state of mind to take care of him." I sighed. "It all happened before I was born, so…"

"If you are a werewolf," Jacob started. He studied me. "I said if you are a werewolf, you'd be safer with the Pack, but… How would you explain that to your parents?"

"They'll be gone for two weeks," I smiled slightly. "Is that enough time for me to figure this out, and for you to settle things at home?"

"Settle?" Jacob frowned. "What do I need to settle at home?"

"Emotions, stuff like that…" I bounced up. "I'm going to call at taxi and pack a few things."

"Wait!" Jacob grabbed my arm. I turned back to look at him, surprised. He released me, though I could feel the warmth from where he had touched me. "What about Aki? Wouldn't he call the police or something?"

"Ha," I laughed. "He wouldn't dare. He'd hate for mom and Baba to think he was irresponsible… He'll just blow up when I get back."

"I'd hate for you to get into trouble…"

I shrugged and left him before he could say anymore.

Whoot! Two chapters in one day! I'm on a roll! Haha, not…really… Okie dokie. I'm not sure if this is moving unbelievably fast – but please be sure to tell me if Ari starts to seem sueish, or anything. Remember: reviews are encouragement!