M I S T A K E N

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

Lol, I can't believe how fast my fingers are working, either! But hey – Jacob is a pretty good reason to get motivated. ((hugs Jacob to death until Ari growls)) Yeah, so…chapter eight. I think I'll keep it up until I either go brain dead, my fingers need to be amputated, or I wander away to the television…

8) beware – the mutt is loose)

Quil laughed heartily, as did the others – except Leah, for which I was grateful – who were Sam, Embry, and Paul. I shoved Quil and he stumbled. Jacob shoved him and he fell onto his face, sprawled on the sand. I glared at Jacob. He blinked innocently. Why did he have to go and show me up? Now Quil was going to-

"Mutt!" Quil chuckled, spitting out some sand in the process. "Can't even knock me over."

I bit back a sharp retort. Jacob skipped over Quil and walked by my side. Today was a casual day. No phasinging, no training, no doing anything worth doing. We were just hanging out like a bunch of teenagers should. Well – hanging out like a bunch of teenagers exposed to crazy amounts of radioactive Miracle Gro.

I stood on the other side of Jacob to escape the sun, never more glad that he was so large and cast such a big shadow. Our 'hanging out' was more like a 'poke fun at Ari because she isn't totally Quiluete party'.

"If it helps," Jacob grinned brightly. "You're a viscous mutt, definite wolf material."

"If I'm a mutt, shouldn't Embry be one, too? No offense, Embry."

"None taken, Ari."

I was part of a brotherhood of those with abusive names. I felt glad to be part of Embry and Quil's tag team. Even though Ari was pronounceable and not strange in the least, Arinola Boluwatife Mary Loraine Duduyemi tended to be a tongue twister and a cause for stares when turning in a paper to a substitute teacher. According to Embry – full names were what counted, so I was accepted. But it seemed our brotherhood had nothing against my mixed blood.

"Well, mutt," Quil started, his voice sounding much like that of a stuffy professor. "Unlike you, Embry's other half happens to be Native American. Your other half isn't American at all."

"So my Baba's an immigrant, so what?" I raised a fist. "Are you trying to say something?"

"…is your Baba a goat or something…?" It was obvious I had surpassed the teacher.

I glared at Quil. "No, my Baba is not a goat! My Baba is my father, thank you very much. Baba is Yoruba for father." I said the last words slowly, hoping even he could understand.

"Uh – huh… Well, that just proves that you're a mutt."

"O tori oloun! Agbaya ni e!" I surged forward, beating him mercilessly with my clenched fists. Quil laughed until one of my hands struck his eye. Then he started whimpering, covering his face with his hands and running in circles, trying to escape my blows.

I leapt on his back, the both of us tumbling to the sand. I had twisted one of his arms behind his back like a police officer on one of those fast-paced cop shows. I raised my free hand, seconds from crashing it down against the bone, hoping to shatter it. "To ba so nkankan, ma-"

Jacob grabbed me before I could finish my threat. He pulled me away, engulfing me in a hug. Embry, Sam, Paul and Leah all laughed at Quil's shameful meaning.

"Beware the mutt," Paul said, his voice not lacking awe. I grinned proudly as Embry helped Quil up. Quil stared at me with a newfound fear.

"Jacob, stop feeding her Puppy Chow." Quil squinted as if he were measuring me. I tried to wiggle out of Jacob's arms, ready to kill. "She might get taller than you."

Even though I didn't hear his laughter, I could feel his vibrating chest. I drew back my elbow and hit him hard. "Oof," He dropped me, rubbing his chest. "Better watch out, Quil. She's loose."

"I'm not going to fuel your stupid dog jokes," I murmured, wiping the sand from my butt. "I'm going to enjoy the day like a decent person. And if an indecent person I know doesn't stop – he's going to be lucky to be breathing by the end of the day."

Quil was silent. Jacob burst into laughter, as did Leah, Sam, Paul and Embry. I crossed my arms over my chest and marched along. When they finally quieted, Leah and I set up our picnic. I was spreading the blanket when I felt something hit my back.

"Nice aim, Jacob! Hey Ari, throw the frisbee!"

I turned to pick up the red piece of plastic. I grinned wickedly when I read the name scrawled across the front in black sharpie.

Quil.

I had half a mind to snap it in half, but I didn't. I finished straightening the checkered blanket and turned to Leah.

"Do you have everything?"

Leah glanced up at me from where she was unloading the third basket of food. She nodded. "Go ahead, break a few skulls."

I grinned and ran to where the boys were playing in the surf. They watched me as I shrugged out of my windbreaker.

"So, who's team am I on?"

"Uh…" Quil looked from him and Jacob to Sam, Paul and Embry. Jacob grinned.

"Our team!"

"No! Embry, go over there. We want Ari."

"Paul, am I that bad? I told you the sun was in my eyes!"

"You dropped it four times, dude!"

"Uh – uh! You already have three," Jacob grabbed my arm, pulling me to his side. "She's with us."

Sam sighed, shrugging. "We get her next game."

"There's not going to be a next game," Quil boasted. "Because we're going to bury you!"

I tossed him the frisbee, and then the game began.

TRANSLATIONS:

"O tori oloun! Agbaya ni e!" - roughly means, in English: For the love of God! You good for nothing.

"To ba so nkankan, ma-" – roughly means, in English: If you say one more thing, I'll-

Short chapter, I know… But I've gotten the next one planned out, already! So don't worry. Expect it tomorrow…oh, it's twelve. Today, then. Later. ((yawns)) Please drop a review! I'm sure it'll only get better with time.