M I S T A K E N

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

I really don't know what's causing me to spit the chapters out like this - and I realize there's going to be some error... I'll edit later, but for now I hope it's bearable. Thanks to everyone who's but this on their favorites list or alerts list! It's gotten over one thousand hits! Wicked shweet!!

11) always ) JPOV )

"Why do you do that?"

"What?" Ari asked, taking a long sip of her apple juice. Or lack of, which would be more appropriate. I cringed at the sight of the diluted liquid.

"Why do you water down everything you drink? I bet it tastes awful."

"First of all, I can't drink apple juice without it being mixed with water or else I have a stomach ache. Second, you try drinking calories and useless sugars with a doctor around. I'm reminded of diabetes and cholesterol and heart attacks as soon as I open the fridge – though it doesn't matter since neither of my parents buy stuff that would even cause an actual person to worry about any of that. As soon as the food is out, my appetite is gone. So please, let me enjoy my beverage in peace."

"A werewolf with a sensitive stomach," I laughed. "I don't think I'd be able to live with that. Your parents and I wouldn't get along."

"No, you wouldn't," Ari agreed. "Considering you can engulf three picnic baskets worth of food in two minutes."

"I said I was sorry," I mumbled, waiting for her to put her glass in the sink before grabbing my car keys and her bag. I left the house while Ari said her good-byes to Billy and waited for her with the passenger door open. She slid in the seat (she was wearing appropriate clothing today – no skirts, thank goodness) and crossed her legs. I hurried into my seat and started the car.

"I can't believe you did this by yourself – it's so awesome!"

I smiled at her and before I knew it, we were on the road. I sighed. "Seattle…"

"You know how to get there, right? I'm awful with directions… You know what this needs? A GPS."

"I know how to get to Seattle."

Ari sighed, turning to look out the window. I sighed too, unsure of what to say. I wanted to ask her if she was coming back, but I knew she was coming back, it was only a matter of time until my need for her – my need for a distraction and something to protect – brought her back to me.

"What do you want to do? After high school, I mean."

"Well, I'll be a junior this school year. I plan to go straight to medical school after graduation. Maybe after I've started a practice or something, I'll go pursue photography. The problem is, I have no idea what I want to specialize in yet."

"That sounds nice. Personally, I wouldn't mind just working on cars."

Ari laughed, brushing back her hair. "Yeah, well I'm sure I'll be the one paying our bills."

I laughed too. I didn't think she'd be capable of joking around with the inevitable fact that we would most probably find ourselves married. It was nice to know she didn't mind providing for –

I slammed on the breaks. Providing for what? A family? How could I even think that? Sure, if we fell in love, we fell in love. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage – but I had wanted all of that with just one person. I had only wanted that with Bella.

The light turned green and I started breathing again. I stole a glance at Ari to see if she had noticed my sudden panic. She wasn't looking in my direction. I bit my lip, confused. But we were destined to be together, whether or not we wanted to be, right? Because I had imprinted on Ari, if she hated me so much that she wanted me to jump off a cliff, I couldn't possibly, not matter how much she wanted me to... Right? Was there some form of descision making in this sort of relationship?

"It's all about the journey," Ari mumbled, as if reading my thoughts. "We know where we're going, but we have no idea how long it'll take us to get there, and we have no idea what will happen to us along the way. Always – it's always like that, isn't it?"

I smiled, keeping my eyes on the road. "Here you are again with a question I'm not sure I can answer. But it sounds like it'll always be that way to me."

Silence filled the car. I knew Ari's mind was probably buzzing with questions she wanted to ask me before we had to part, but she didn't voice any concerns. I parked the car in front of her house, hesitantly glancing in her direction. She smiled sadly.

"Well, I guess this is it until later. Thank you, Jacob. It's been unbelievable."

"Yeah," I watched her get out of the car. "I'll try and stop by now and again."

"Okay," She took her bag from the car. "That'd be nice." She gave a small wave before starting up the front steps. I watched her for a minute. She had her key in the door. My heart stopped as her hand turned…

"Ari!" I was behind her before I knew it. I fingered the object in my palm, unsure. Ari turned around and smiled up at me.

"Yeah? Your number's on speed dial. You already asked."

"Yeah, I know. I want to give you this," I took her hand from the door and slipped the ring I had carved onto her ring finger. I was glad it fit her long, slender digit. I smiled as she flexed her finger. Her shining eyes warmed me more than any fever possibly could.

"It's wonderful, Jacob. Did you make it?" She twisted it around and around, her eyes lit up. She squinted, studying the carving.

"Yeah. It's…a promise. A promise that one day, I'll be yours – only yours. Always." I had found it in a drawer the day after Ari had come to La Push. It had been a forgotten project of mine. I had finished the detailing and kept it with me since, hoping to build enough courage to actually give it to her. Ari held up her hand, wiggling her fingers, her face unreadable. "Because you asked me what love felt like, and I plan to show you, when I'm ready," I added.

"A kiss and you'll always be with me," She smiled, her cute dimples dark. "My Baba says that."

I gently took her hand, running my thumb over her knuckles before I pressed her fingers against my lips. She gave a soft sigh when I dropped her hand, lowering her eyes in embarrassment.

"Thank you. Really. I'll call you tomorrow, okay? If Aki doesn't take my phone from me."

"Okay," I rocked back on my heels. "I really wish you weren't getting in trouble over this."

"Don't worry about it," She opened the door. I could already hear her brother on the top floor, starting down the stairs. "Bye."

"Bye," I mumbled as she shut the door. I sighed and folded my hands behind my head, starting down the steps. What was I supposed to do, now?

The question was soon forgotten as I remembered Ari's words. "A kiss and you'll always be with me." I frowned when I reached the Rabbit, gripping the steering wheel as I started the car. She hadn't kissed me back… Maybe it was stupid of me, but I was starting to think that was a bad omen.

I laughed at myself as I turned the car around and started back towards La Push. Ari would be with me always – I'd make sure of it.

WHOOT! ((cheers)) yay! Not an actual first kiss, but we're getting there. There's no actual romance yet…((sobs)) but there shall be, eventually. Right now, Jacob has to get as totally over Bella as he possibly can. ((grumbles about how thoughts of Bella keep sneaking in)) So right now we're at a promise. He will soon fufill that promise! Ummm, now, about the Cullens… I'm not exactly sure when/if I'm going to bring them in or not. I mean, the Volturi is coming, the Volturi is coming! I can see Edward wanting them gone, since Bella hasn't become a vampire yet, but ah… ((brain overloads and explodes)) thanks for the encouragement though! I've already come up with a sequel… Gah, I still need to figure out exactly how this ends, though. Hrm… Next chapter is Ari's POV. Yay for big brother punishment! Until next chapter – Happy New Year!