So... I felt like making a chapter free of cliffies or drama and depressingness. So here's one just on Cara and Jake. Warning though, the next chapter may not be so nice.
Cara:
Saturday. Finally. The longest week of my life was finally over, leaving me to wake up to glorious Saturday. The sun had even come out for the occasion, streaking through the white linen curtains fluttering in my window.
Staring out and listening to the birds outside and the sounds of La Push I could almost forget about the mess that had become my life. Well… not entirely. Just a certain evil, sadistic vampire now stalking me at the school I was sent to in order to protect kids against him.
We know how well that worked.
The cold metal around my neck felt like it was choking the warmth out of me and with a sigh, I pushed myself into a semi-sitting position.
Maybe I could just play sick, not go out and face the world. Maybe I could play sick and not face the world at Jake's house… yeah, that would be better. I blushed when my dad came bursting into my room, carrying the smell of pancakes and something else.
"Well… if the lovebird isn't up! There's a boy downstairs, Cara. Unless you want him to suffer unnecessarily, I'd get up!" And with that, he waltzed away, spatula in hand, leaving me gaping with a pounding heart.
I shot out of bed like a canon, grabbed the first clothes I saw and ran to the bathroom, just catching a glimpse of dark, wavy hair when I glanced down the stairs. My shower was cold but I didn't notice. High temperature and all.
My jeans were baggy and worn in, my t-shirt was the one I used to paint in whenever we moved but it would have to do. I finger combed my hair and let it hang around my shoulders. Brushed my teeth with lightning speed and raced down the stairs, just remembering to grab my shoes.
"- used to hate taking baths! Her mother and I had to bribe her with candy!" I walked into what should have been a normal and harmless scene but I could sense the danger under it.
Dad, in his house-dad apron and spatula carelessly flipped a pancake when he saw me, blue eyes twinkling wickedly. He was enjoying this. Jake turned to me, grinning boldly, trying desperately not to burst out laughing at my face.
"Here she is! I don't have to bribe her anymore, obviously" Dad said and I glared at him as my face turned to beat red. "Isn't she adorable?"
"She sure is" Jake mumbled, and his grin turned into the sweetest smile. His warm brown eyes, staring at me with such intensity, made me blush even more and I looked at the ground.
"So… uh, what're you doing here?" I managed to mumble between quick gasps of air. Dad may be all pleased with himself but just wait till I get home. He had another thing coming.
"Well, I figured you deserved a break- uh, from school and stuff" Jake recovered quickly, throwing a sheepish glance at my father whose smug smile slipped for a second. He shrugged after a minute of weighing his options.
Humiliate his only child who would hate him for the rest of her life or let her go in peace with her dignity in tact? Luckily, he knows what's good for him.
"Don't have her home too late" He muttered, with one final approving glance in Jake's direction. He winked at me then nodded, pleased. I smiled and grabbed Jake's hand, eager to be anywhere but in that kitchen.
Outside, the winter air felt like a nice summer breeze. Cool and refreshing on my skin. The sun I'd briefly glimpsed through my window was in full force, shining on every surface I could see.
"So, what's on the agenda for today?" My fingers twined through Jake's and he pulled me closer. No jackets needed when you're two werewolves with abnormal body heat.
"Considering… what's been going on, I wanted you to have some fun. This relationship can't always be messy" His husky voice sent shivers down my spine, like it always manages to do. A low, gentle murmur in my ear.
"I can handle it" I said and for a second the guilt I felt came flooding back up. I pushed down the picture of the boy who had died- Jared- and wound my arm tighter around Jacob's thin waist.
"Well… I kind of needed a break too" He smiled shyly and when I was sure we were out of sight of my house, I dragged his face down to mine for a quick second. "And that"
I laughed for what felt like the first time in days. School and acting normal around my father by day and anxious, stressful shifts at night had taken its toll on me. I couldn't sleep, couldn't concentrate with Stefan in most of my classes. He was slowly unraveling my life.
Never more than an inch apart, Jake and I walked through the morning forest, for once care free and relaxed. I had almost forgotten what his laugh sounded like. Almost forgotten how dizzy his could make me.
When his big, two story house came into view, I veered in that direction but he tugged me the other way, towards the cliffs close by. I probably should have been suspicious of the grin or the gleam in his redwood eyes.
"Let's do things the Quileute way today" He said and I nodded, smiling like someone who doesn't quite get the joke.
The craggy cliffs dropped off to reveal the vast ocean, cold and churning far down below. In one part of the rock face, it curved in, creating an almost natural pool. The waves weren't as harsh and there was less of a chance of hitting rocks if someone was crazy enough to jump off.
"What'd you think?" Jake asked, a curious look on his face as he watched my reaction. I shrugged with a smile.
"It's beautiful" I answered but it came as more of a question. He opened his mouth to reply but never got a chance.
Someone laughed and shouted behind me and my eyes widened, staring straight at Jake. He grinned again, if anything more mischievously, and he grabbed both my hands in a death grip. My heart leapt into my throat.
"Hey Caaaaraaaa!" A body whizzed by on my right before catapulting over the side and down- way, way down- into the rushing water. Was that Embry?!
Before I could recover from that another tall, tanned body hurtled by, deliberately nudging my shoulder so I'd stumble closer to the edge. That had to be Quil! My head whipped around to Jake, my eyes pleading that he wasn't going to do what I thought he was.
"Oh… oh, no!" I stammered and he just nodded, his eyes sparkling in a way that kept me from looking away.
"Hold your breathe" He said before wrapping his arm around my waist and throwing me over his shoulder- fireman style- and I screamed as he ran, kicking off his shoes, and jumped, sixty feet down into ice cold water.
My stomach flipped and flopped and caught in my throat, choking off the blood curdling scream in my lungs. The hair flew back from my face, streaming behind me as we plummeted through the air. Shouts of encouragement whizzed by and I could just barely see Quil and Embry making their way back up the rock face.
And just when I thought it would never come, we hit the water. It's a good thing I didn't scream, I'd need that air. Somehow, Jake managed to keep hold of my hands, even under the churning water.
We kicked and kicked, maybe even kicking downward, but eventually, just when I thought my lungs would burst, we reached the surface. Sputtering, and splashing, I didn't expect the feelings rushing through me.
Jake was laughing, pulling me closer through the water where he kissed me and we went sinking for a sick second before pushing back up.
"Never… ever do that again!" I shouted above the roar of the waves. But inside? I was laughing too and it eventually bubbled up to the outside and I cracked up, laughing uncontrollably.
Maybe I was in shock from the fact that I had just jumped- or been carried- off a cliff and survived, but I almost wanted to do it again. Almost.
Jake tugged me along through the water, waves occasionally sending me choking for air. Quil dove over the edge again and Embry called down from way above, laughing. Looking up, I almost forgot to swim. Did Jake really just jump off that?!
We reached the ridged stone and started the slow climb back up, Jake keeping pace with me while Quil hurried up, making it to the top in ten minutes. About half way up, Jake took my hand and pulled me inside a little shelter I hadn't noticed before.
"Hey, this is-" pretty cool is what I was going to say but I never got to. He was on me like white on rice, pressing his lips to mine and cupping the back of my neck with his warm hand.
I was overly conscience of the fact that my clothes were almost see-through and sticking to me and that Jacob had stripped off his drenched shirt and tossed it in the corner. He lowered me back onto the sand covered ledge as his other hand traveled down to my hip. My heart beat so heavily I could feel it reverberating off my rib cage, my hands were starting to shake as they moved along his chest. He lowered his body onto mine and his hand ran down my thigh to my knee, pulling my leg around his waist without even breaking the kiss.
A scream whizzed by, signaling Embry's descent and we broke apart- sadly- panting and gulping for air. His eyes- so gentle and sweet- stayed locked on mine.
"Can I ask you something?" He rolled onto his back, pulling me close and I rested my head on his shoulder.
"Anything" I said and started tracing circles on his stomach. I was still having trouble getting my heart to slow but I was beginning to like the way it sped up and hummed its own song in my chest.
"Why do you stay here?" The question took me off guard and I pushed up on one arm to look at him. Jake looked at me like he was having trouble with a math problem and couldn't put the numbers together.
"Why wouldn't I?" I ask.
"Well... you mean besides the obvious reasons? Cara, your life hasn't exactly been easy here" Jake mumbled, his brown eyes darkening in that brooding way I knew so well. Lightly, I kissed his throat and smiled when I felt him shiver.
"I never liked easy" He smiled hesitantly and I curled up against his body. The sound of the waves outside hitting the rock face echoed slightly in the alcove. "And besides, saying I love you over the phone isn't quite as nice as saying I love you in person"
"I love you, Cara" His lips brushed mine as he spoke sending trills up and down my spine.
"I love you, Jake"
Reviews would be oh-so-sweet.