M I S T A K E N

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

((bounces madly)) now, the moment you've all been waiting fooooooooor – Imprinting! Yay!

6) when your world is as big as one person )

I woke to breakfast in bed. It was a nice gesture, on Jacob's part. It would have been appreciated, had I not been angry.

"How could you?" I cried, throwing back the covers, sending the tray crashing to the floor. I marched out of the room. Jacob grabbed my arm and whirled me around to face him.

"It's not like I can help it!" He shouted back. I struck him hard, my fist slamming against his jaw with a newfound strength. He released me. I stormed out of the house, kicking the nearest tree. It shook, leaves falling from shuddering branches. The tree swayed violently, but I didn't notice. I didn't notice my aching body – my growing pains. I wasn't aware of my change. All I remembered was the words uttered by the vampire.

"You've imprinted."

I also remembered the feelings Jacob had recalled when he was trying to coax humanity out of me. Something he felt was way beyond human devotion. Beyond anything. It was everything, it was air, it was water, it was joy, peace, pain, and sorrow. It was life. It was imprinting.

"Ari!"

I growled, wishing he had left me alone. I glared at him, feeling confused. I absolutely hated not knowing things. I hated…

Jacob had a hand to his face. I glared at him as he popped his jaw back into place, smiling slightly at the damage I had done.

"You owe me an explanation."

"I do," He agreed.

I sighed, my anger collapsing. I felt drained and tired. I probably looked like crap. Jacob noticed my weariness immediately. "You need more sleep."

"What I need is to get hit by a car," I slammed my fist into my palm. "Ba-boom! I wish reality were a bus. I'd just walk into the street and – BAM!"

Jacob eyed me, probably figuring my mental status. I felt like a jerk for what I had done to him. I reached up to touch his jaw, standing on the tips of my toes. "Sorry," I mumbled, rocking back on my heels and wrapping my arms around myself. "Breakfast was sweet. I'm sure I'd have liked it."

"Don't worry about it."

He followed me silently. I could fell him staring at me. I turned around and stared back. "Jacob."

"Yes, Ari?"

"I'm not going anywhere."

"I know. I mean, I thought you'd go home after last night – and if you did Quil and I were going to kidnap you, and-"

"I repeat: I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to watch me every second." I wasn't sure of how to take the planned abduction, but I made a mental note to put 911 on my speed dial.

"Oh, right. Gotcha."

His dark eyes never left mine. After a while, I saw him look away. I smiled broadly, my annoyance diminishing. "What did I look like?"

"Huh?"

"The wolf is a reflection of the inner human, right? Sam's black, Embry's gray, you're kind of reddish… What did I look like?"

"Like… tiny," He laughed, holding his index finger close to his thumb, the space between them not able to be seen. "You're not even as big as Leah!" His laughter died when he caught my glare. He cleared his throat. "You're a really pretty cream. There was some gray mixed in, too."

"But my paw was brown."

"So was some of the fur around your eyes. And your muzzle, too. You were mixed up."

"Mm…a result of my messed up mind, I guess."

"Ari."

"Yes'um?"

Jacob smiled. "I'm sorry you found out that way. I was going to tell you, but I wasn't sure of the right time…"

I continued walking, brushing my hand against the tree bark. "When did it happen?"

"Back at the forest, when I saw you in your brother's car," His eyes grew distant. I was too busy trying to decipher his unreadable expression to realize where I was walking. My foot struck a tree root and I stumbled. Jacob caught my arm before I fell.

"Thanks."

"Uh – huh."

"Jacob, you're staring again."

"I can't help it," He pouted. I smiled.

"When you look at me…what do you see?"

Jacob sat down, resting against a tree. I sat down beside him, listening intently.

"I see a beautiful girl thrust headfirst into a world she never knew existed. I see a strong, brave, caring person. I see you. I see your pain, and your dreams, and your heart. I see you, Ari. I see your safety and your love and your compassion… I see myself keeping you from harm, and being anything you need. All I see is you. Just you."

Listening to him, I felt myself drinking in the warmth of his voice. His words came out in a husky breath like smoke out of a chimney. If I had my tail, I would have wagged it. His friendly, dark eyes were bright, as if his heart were a furnace keeping his soul so radiant.

I couldn't even explain the thoughts in my head. Could I even call them thoughts if I was so sure of such an immense feeling? A feeling of wanting nothing but what Jacob wanted. A feeling of giving all and more than he could possibly need. A feeling of sacrificing anything that mattered for his sake, and knowing all the while that nothing mattered except him. How could I feel something so strong for a person? How was I sure I was even feeling it?

I was staring at him with just as much intensity as he was staring at me. I took a breath to still my racing pulse and rapidly beating heart. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't force my eyes to look elsewhere – because there was no elsewhere. Jacob was everywhere. He was like the sun – no hiding it. It was the warmth of the world – my world. I couldn't live without the sun. I couldn't live without being assured of the warmth of his chest and the glitter in his eyes.

My stomach growled. Wordlessly, Jacob stood up and took my hand, leading me back to his house. We made breakfast together and ate in silence, somehow managing to keep eye contact.

When we finished, I took the dishes and washed them, covering the plate we had set aside for Billy. Jacob sat down on the couch with a loud sigh, and I laughed. He frowned at me. "What's so funny?"

"You're too big for it," I said.

"Yeah – well at least I actually grew some when I had my growth spurt," Jacob shot back. I narrowed my eyes.

"Who cares how tall I am? I bet I could break your nose!"

"Getting bold, are we?" Jacob stood up and walked up to me, towering over me. He looked down and grinned at my expression. "Can you even reach my nose?"

"That's cheap!" I laughed, pushing him away. "Maybe I'll grow a bit more…"

"Doubt it, Ari. You've all ready changed."

I sniffed. "I'm taking my shower, then. I'll be right back."

"Sure, sure."

I showered and changed quickly, brushing my hair back into a suitable ponytail and pulling on a pair of shorts and a navy blue shirt. I slipped on a pair of orange flip-flops and hurried down the stairs. Jacob stood at the door, waiting for me. "I assume by your apparel we're going to the beach."

"Good assumption," I grinned, taking off. I had been amazed at the sight of myself. I knew I had grown, I was aware of my muscle for at least a month now. I was on the volley ball team at school, and I had been taking dance classes on and off. This was different – not like steroids and not like some governmental experiment – this was real. This was me.

Jacob caught up to me, not even running as fast as he could. I knew I wasn't even touching my potential, but for now I wanted to stay as average as I could possibly be. I was starting to find out what I was, and now the small, rational part locked deep within my crazed mind was anxious.

As soon as we hit the beach, I collapsed in the sand. Jacob lay down beside me, and we talked. It was nice talking to him, and not being angry at anything or anyone. It was nice to watch the water and feel the sun on my back and the sand between my toes and feel like I was a part of this place. This place that I couldn't have ever known, had Jacob not led me here.

I grew silent after Jacob had told me about the Rabbit. I guess I had seemed uninterested, because he stopped talking. We had been here for hours, just enjoying one another's company. Enjoying each other's presence.

"You're not mad again, are you?"

"I'm not angry with you." Jacob grunted at my reply, probably not believing me.

"Ari," His breath rushed out warm, soothing exhales. His words were soft, carried by the salty air.

"I'm not angry with you," I repeated, concentrating on the surf. "I was just thinking of how to explain it." I continued, oblivious to his confusion. "I think I've imprinted on you, too."

He was silent. I waited patiently for him to say something. He didn't even blink, his massive form laid in the wet sand without a care.

"It was surreal, it is. I find myself watching you when I don't mean to. You're everything, everywhere, everyone. It's not the least bit romantic – no offense – just…passionate. I want to know how you feeling, what you're thinking… Jacob – I'd jump in front of a bullet for you, these feeling are that strong. I barely know you."

He sat up; sand fell out of his hair as he shook his head. His eyes twinkled. "If it counts for anything – I feel the same way – and unless it's military grade, I doubt a bullet would do much harm."

"So we imprinted…on each other…" I blinked.

Jacob shrugged, then turned himself away from me, exhaling as he watched the sunset. "Yeah, I guess we did."

((blinks)) Yay! Yayayayay! Now the real action can begin! Um…I tried to describe the imprinting as best as I could – through Ari's eyes. She's a bit weird... haha, I do stuff like that too - yelling bang, and boom, and unintelligible cries of anguish when somethin I typed gets deleted by my baby bro... ((curses 6 yr old computer genius)) I might get the next chapter up today, who knows. Maybe I can get to chapter ten by the New Year. Thanks so much for all the reviews! You guys are so nice, lol, being late for work just to read this. Hope you didn't get in too much trouble,Tigereyes9 ((gasps because her favorite animal ish a tiger as well)) Anywho, I'm off to start the next chapter. If I don't get it up before the New Year (which I doubt, since I've suddenly had a rushing of ideas and my fingers have tapped into some reserve of energy) happy New Year, everyone!

--Blessed.